If ignition timing is OK can I assume cam timing is also OK?

I checked my ignition timing with a timing light (22RE) and it is OK. If the cam timing were off, would it be possible to still have my ignition timing be OK?

Since the distributor is driven by the cam gear, I would think that it would throw off ignition timing if the cam timing were off.

 

The cam timing and the distributor (ignition) timing are both with respect to the crankshaft. Yes, you can advance/retard your cam gear wrt the crank and still set your ignition timing wherever you would like wrt the crank. I have advanced cam timing using a TRD gear before on my Celica 20r and also on my 327 Camaro. I have not tried to advance/retard a 20\22r cam with a stock gear so i can’t say much about that other than each cam gear tooth is worth 5 degrees wrt the crankshaft. 5 degrees is not a lot of cam advance. Many performance cams have 4 degrees ground in. The higher you go, the more you risk piston to valve contact. But advancing the cam increases cyl pressure and moves the powerband lower. Retarding moves it higher in rpm.

 

If you set timing at the crank, and your distributer lock bolt is kinda in the center of the slot I'd say you're all good with respect to that. If the distributer lock bolt is all the way to either side in the slot than something is most likely off. Same with the TPS. It should be sorta centered in the adjusting slot, also.

 

Here’s a good video with cam timing dyno test.