I discovered an adjustable cam on recently acquired 93 22re. I understand that this will make my already oversized cam more aggressive. Right now I just want economy and a smooth idle. The rotor is rotated all the way to the left, in other words the bolts are all the way to the right of the slot on the rotor. Should I just leave it alone???

I just jumped my distributor a tooth so I could get my timing back to normal, but then I took off valve cover to adjust valve lash and here is this adjustable camshaft...WTF should I do? Should I readjust the distributor, then adjust the camshaft? Anyone with experience with this??

 

The involved process would be to adjust the cam to the cam manufacurers spec.

Involves a degree wheel on the crank and a dial indicator for the cam. The valves should have XXX lift at XXX degree on the crank. The engine will run best when set to the cam spec.

Note:
I ran a cam in my 327 for a year (stock timing gears) before I got a set of gears that were adjustable. Dialed it in, and it ran much better.
(edelbrock performer cam and intake)

 

OK....so what is the shadetree method???

 

There is no shade tree method. If you screw it up remember that this is an "INTERFERANCE ENGINE". You will be digging valves out of the pistons. Your ignition timing has no bearing on your cam timing. Ignition is based off TDC of the piston/crank position not the cam. But if you turn that adjustment you will have to adjust your distributor to put the timing back. SO I guess if you are going to move the cam ajustment do that first then set your ignition. If I were you I would get rid of that ajustable cam gear and put in a stock one. Unless you are racing the engine and have a particular RPM range that you want to make power in. Your fuel injection map will also work better with a standard cam timing.

IMHO

 

Those cam gears are used when the deck height is changed (ie, when the engine is rebuilt, the head is milled) and the shorter distance causes a change in timing.
Here is a web site on degreeing the cam on a 22re engine.
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/cam_degreeing/

 

i don't think the cam gear allows enough adjustment to smack the pistons into the valves, but i'd still rotate the engine over by hand a few times after changing its setting to ensure that nothing is going to cause problems.

as a general rule of thumb, retarding the camshaft timing will move the powerband higher up, and advancing it will move it down.

 

I tried adjusting the cam gear but it put everything so out of wack so I just put it back to the setting to was on and put everything back together. Lucky for me I didn't mess up the valves cause I didn't think of the interference. I am used to working on my ford escort wich has no interference. I have put three timing belts into that thing so I know for a fact the 94 1.9 liter ford escort has no interference.

 

The adjustable cam gear should indicate the amount of "degrees" that is advanced and retarded. Adjusting it to "0" is where the factory setting is, which is typically in the middle.

 

Maybe you could just call LC Enginering and ask them about it.

 

There is a little gauge that indicates cam degrees. It was originally retarded 10 degrees. I did try turning it to 0 but that put my timing off so much I couldn't tell where the heck it was. I tried jumping the distributor a tooth each way and still couldn't find the mark with my timing light. I got worried about messing up the valves so I just put it back to the original setting and put everything back together.

Overall I am pleased because the idle did smooth out and I don't have anymore idle surge after I originally retarded the timing back to spec (5 degrees) with the jumper wire installed on the diagnostic terminal. It was only after this that I decided to adjust valve lash and discovered the adjustable cam.

My idle does go a real low now when I am slowing down or dropping it out of gear but it hasn't stalled like it used to and I don't get the surge so I think I will leave things alone for awhile.

 

as far as the idle dropping when slowing down check your dash pot if you have one....dunno if 22re's have em...lol

 

What exactly is the 'dash pot'? I used to have some of that in highschool.....

 

its a 1" diameter piece that has a small rod that impacts the throttle plate lever your throttle cable indexes. It's job is to keep the throttle plate ever so slightly open when you pull you foot completely out of the gas, this allows the mixture to lean out and lower emmisions. However it could theoretically have an impact on RPM too....