adjustable cam gear question

[dubious]

hey

i am after some adjustable cam gears for a 20 valve silvertop, i have been told most of them disable the vvt.

do i need vvt activated?

do i need to change camshafts if i want adjustable cam gears?

any info, brands, experiences would be good

thanks

[RedMist]

Not most, all disable VVT.
Do you need VVT activated? No, you simply time the cams to give optimal power. The solinoid simply sits there. I think you also need an oil passage mod but the supplier of your aftermarket cam pulley should inform you.

No you don't need to change the cam shafts, but if your not looking at longer duration high lift cams then why are you going adjustable? Please don't say you want them anodised and are going to remove the cam cover. Or I'll have to find someone close to where you live and pay them to come and bitch slap you!

TRD used to make VVT cam pulleys, beautifully manufactured. I think the only other main stream manufacturer to make them is Toda. Other than that you'll have to get something custom made for intake... exhaust you can use a 16 valve adjustable.

[strap-on]

mayb im wrong, but if u have an adjustable pulley.... wht is the point in keeping vvt?

[dubious]

thanks

no it is just a matter of progression, adj cam gears, then the cam shafts later etc etc.

any ideas on a good place to get them from and perform the oil mod?

[85AW20v]

You could try www.palmside.co.nz down in Chch. Deane Buist does them.
if you remove the power from the solenoid wouldn't that solve the oil passage mod as then the solenoid wouldn't open and let the oil through? I know that my vvt wasn't working without power to the solenoid after the 20v transplant into the AW.

[kingcorolla]

so someone explain this,
would getting my current 16v cams reground to 'Kelford spec"
AND ADDING adjustable cam gears, would be pointless, due to added duration in the cams?

[RedMist]

Incorrect. In order to get the most power from your newly reground cams then you'll need adjustable cam gears.

It's running adjustables on standard cams that is pointless. Your not likely to get more power without sacrificing some mid range and generally make the car harder to drive. And it costs you to set this up, which is why you only want to do it once.

[kingcorolla]

thank you once again redmist

but i kinda not sure on the whole benefits on adjusting your cam timing, though I hear advancing your inlet cam timing one notch can improve response etc, but there must be sacrifices, this is what ive heard, still not clear on the full benefits etc.

someone needs to clear this up for me....

[RedMist]

It's not an easy topic and books are filled with information on cam timing, lobe centers and duration. A VERY basic description is here.

http://www.muzzys.com/articles/lobe_centers.html

Make note of use of the word SHOULD. It most certainly doesn't always work this way, hence dyno tuning is a good start... or if you have a very accurate Butt dyno that isn't put off by power kicks and sound.
Cam timing is effected by duration, intake, exhaust, head flow, valve sizes and of course where you need the power. I used the word need because pushing power up the RPM range is next to useless.
Oh and never play with your cam timing unless you know where in the duration your valves hit your pistons!

Daniel.

[kingcorolla]

looks like some good reading is in order then. churr.