Camshaft degree

Tiny
DAVISMELODY6669
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 220,000 MILES
I didn't degree the aftermarket camshaft and I heard that comp cams are already 4° advance. The motor timing is on zero but didn't run right at all, it couldn't idle I turn it off n seen that the intake had white smoke. What could it be. The distributor firing late or intake valve open in combustion. Back firing through intake I guess. Hope I didn't mess up the new injectors.
Friday, December 20th, 2019 AT 9:18 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good morning,

How did you adjust the valves?

What is the cam retard set at? You need a scan tool to see that reading.

Do you have a vacuum gauge to check the vacuum at idle?

Roy
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 6:44 AM
Tiny
DAVISMELODY6669
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  • 65 POSTS
Don't have a vacuum gauge and valves are adjusted to the specs. 550 clearance and cam is only 488 lift.
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 8:53 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Okay, so you have a solid lifter cam installed?

That may be the issue since the PCM does not have an option for this kind of cam, only the factory one.

You may need to get a chip for the PCM for this to work.

Roy
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:37 PM
Tiny
DAVISMELODY6669
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I want it to idle before I take it to get Dyno tuned. I did buy idle control valve today and will install maybe it'll idle. Even if the timing chain is dot to dot it should idle right. Why would white smoke come out of my air filter?
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:43 PM
Tiny
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No, not really. The PCM is trying to adjust fuel mixture to its factory specs. It does not know you have a big cam in it.

I would get a chip for this so you can manually tune the engine to the cam.

Roy
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:47 PM
Tiny
DAVISMELODY6669
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  • 65 POSTS
So I can tune it myself? Which do you recommend to buy so I can tune it? Please
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 2:54 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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There are so many tuners out there. I would go to a speed shop and tell them all the specs for the engine and let them recommend a tuner for you.

You will need a laptop that can hook to the data link connector and will connect to the tuner.

Roy
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+1
Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 2:58 PM

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