PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA

Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: rob289c on October 03, 2022, 10:28:08 AM

Title: Adjustable Cam Pulley
Post by: rob289c on October 03, 2022, 10:28:08 AM
Is it worth the +/-$150 for an adjustable cam pulley for a stock 2.3?  It will have a header and open air filter element, but otherwise stock.  I'm not building a performance machine and as far as I know, the head has not been milled so is there any good reason for me to spend the $$$?  Would the extra few degrees of advance make any difference?
Title: Re: Adjustable Cam Pulley
Post by: Wittsend on October 03, 2022, 11:36:54 AM
Maybe the better question is WHAT if any cam advance or retard is beneficial to the (otherwise stock) 2.3 engine. IF..., there is a consensus for a specific amount of change then you can buy a $10 offset key and accomplish the same thing that the adjustable pulley would.

 Adjustable pulleys are fine if you are building an all out race engine and can afford to spend a small fortune on a dyno to extract every bit of power. Any gain on a stock engine will likely be small - in general. But you may find for smog reasons changes of 4 degrees (or slightly more) MIGHT be helpful. You really need to hear from someone who has tinkered with the engine a lot.
Title: Re: Adjustable Cam Pulley
Post by: rob289c on October 03, 2022, 07:27:20 PM
Thank you for the reply...defini tely not going to be an all out race engine...in fact, with the ultra-short wheelbase and low weight of what I'm building, probably less power is better.  I think I will stay with the stock pulley and just try to make it start and run dependably. 
Title: Re: Adjustable Cam Pulley
Post by: davidpinto on October 04, 2022, 06:16:25 PM
I HAVE A RACE ENGENEERING CAM PULLEY ON MY CUSTOM GROUND ERSON CAM.I CUT OUT THE CAM COVER FOR EASY ADJUSTMENT , IT WAS PRETTY REASONABLE WHEN I BOUGHT IT ,EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP NOW.LOOKS COOL THOUGH.
Title: Re: Adjustable Cam Pulley
Post by: rob289c on October 04, 2022, 08:12:39 PM
Sure does look cool!
Title: Re: Adjustable Cam Pulley
Post by: LongTimeFordMan on January 22, 2023, 04:12:41 PM
Not sure about a 2.3 but on a 2.0  advancing the cam about 4-6 degrees makes a lot of difference in low end torque.

But if you do opt for an adjustable pulley do get a steel one rather than an alloy..

Check with racer walsh about getting one.

Also since the timing marks on a 2.0 arent located on the belt cover i just run without one
Title: Re: Adjustable Cam Pulley
Post by: davidpinto on January 22, 2023, 05:20:03 PM
WATS THE DEAL WITH ALLOY CAM GEARS ? I'VE BEEN RUNNING MINE FOR OVER 6 YRS AND 2 BELT CHANGES AND STILL LOOKS LIKE NEW.
Title: Re: Adjustable Cam Pulley
Post by: LongTimeFordMan on January 28, 2023, 10:07:01 AM
Not sure about alloy pulleys..

I had one go south in abour 5000 miles...

Teeth just wore out... rounded off and started eating belts

Racer walsh replaced it with a steel one and no problems since