cam question

I just installed a A237 cam. Runs good, but my vac went from about 19 in/hg with the RR down to about 10-11. I have cam gear set 4* retarded. Is this normal? It also seems to take longer for the boost to come on. Before the boost comes on, it feels "lazy" like the ignition timing is retarded, which it isn't, still at 10 BTDC and I triple checked the cam gear to make sure it wasn't a tooth off. Also, are you supposed to put any sealer on the cam gear bolt? I also made one mistake, I installed the new cam seal before I slid the cam in and I now have an oil leak coming down the front of the motor. At least that's what I hope it's from. Thanks... Chuck

You should put sealer on the cam bolt.

You will lose vacuum. I've heard a lot of different results on that one. My car still runs about 15-16" when warm. I have heard of others getting less, even a lot less. BUT, I'm running around 12-13* ignition timing advance, which will help vac a little, as well as the low end some. Also, I run the cam at about 4* advanced. The 237 is a top end cam as it is. Running it retarded only moves the power band even higher in the rpm range. Advance the cam to bring it down in the rpm range.

This cam is basically DOA below 3K. Fact of life, live with it or change the cam. But once it comes on, it will set you back in the seat.

I gotta tell ya, I've been playing with the cam timing back and forth and if there is a difference, at least how it feels to me, it's minimal at best from -4 to +4. I'll put it back to +4 and see again. I put black RTV on the cam bolt after I saw the leak, but I think it's still leaking. We'll see on that one.

Try adding 2-3* ignition advance also

I have it at 10* and I get a little detonation at higher rpms in the higher gears. 1st&2nd are ok, but 3rd&4th will ping when I start pushing 5k rpm's. Don't know why. Has a Walbro 255, just put in cleaned and flowed brown tops, base fp is 42 vac hose off, climbs like it should with boost, new fuel filter and full Motorcraft tune up with NGK TR5's. I would love to run 12* but would probably ping like crazy. I think I tried it a while back and it wasn't good.

What turbo you running and how much boost?

T3 and normally 18 psi. Tried out 20 today just to see how it was with the new cam. Pretty sweet actually. lol.