Not for Nuthin' But Close!

[Bench Racer]

Billy, not to get off the topic, but is this the same engine that is in the S-10's and Saturn's? I have had 3 2.2 Saturns, an 03 auto, and a 04 5 speed that were pretty peppy. I currently have an 02 wagon that has less horsepower but is still impressive for a 4 banger in a wagon. Don Jackson

[Billy Nees]

The S-10s had the 2.2 OHV engine in them as did the older Cavs and some Saturns. I don't dis-like this engine but the only combo that I can find in the guide with it is the S-10 and it's factored at 124-129 HP which seems to be a bit much when compared to the Ecotec at 140. But the 2.2 OHV must be pretty good because someone has gotten it hit!

[Billy Nees]

So, is anyone up for a little bit of an engine-theory discussion this morning? Or at least maybe some brain farting?
I have new cams and chain and tensioners for the Cavalier and have spent more on this thing since I started it than I spent on the UTI4U1K Pontiac! OUCH! Who said that FWDs make cheap racecars?
I started dis-assembling the car to install the cams and, as I tend to do, went about checking timing marks and lining things up and came to find out that the exhaust cam was retarded one tooth on the gear! The intake cam is where it should be.
Could this be why the car didn't respond to the header? What should I expect from this thing now? I'm not going to put the exhaust cam back where it should be and take it to the track which is what I should do. Any comments, suggestions, phone # of a good therapist?

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

So, is anyone up for a little bit of an engine-theory discussion this morning? Or at least maybe some brain farting?
I have new cams and chain and tensioners for the Cavalier and have spent more on this thing since I started it than I spent on the UTI4U1K Pontiac! OUCH! Who said that FWDs make cheap racecars?
I started dis-assembling the car to install the cams and, as I tend to do, went about checking timing marks and lining things up and came to find out that the exhaust cam was retarded one tooth on the gear! The intake cam is where it should be.
Could this be why the car didn't respond to the header? What should I expect from this thing now? I'm not going to put the exhaust cam back where it should be and take it to the track which is what I should do. Any comments, suggestions, phone # of a good therapist?

Yes, it will affect the performance of the engine. It moves the powerband to a higher RPM range, making the port lazy and it will kill low and midrange.

[Marty Knox]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I started dis-assembling the car to install the cams and, as I tend to do, went about checking timing marks and lining things up and came to find out that the exhaust cam was retarded one tooth on the gear! The intake cam is where it should be.
Could this be why the car didn't respond to the header? What should I expect from this thing now? I'm not going to put the exhaust cam back where it should be and take it to the track which is what I should do. Any comments, suggestions, phone # of a good therapist?

So, if you're not going to do what you should do, what ARE you going to do? Put it back together with the new cam?

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Marty Knox

So, if you're not going to do what you should do, what ARE you going to do? Put it back together with the new cam?

Of course!

[Tom Meyer]

Are you doing balance shaft delete while you have it apart? I have a set I could send you. Tech tip #1 16 links between the marks. Tech tip # 2 when installing the front cover, put the dampener in the cover and install as a unit on the keyway it should just slide together. Just put the cams in and go fast. Tom

[Billy Nees]

No Tom, I'm not deleting the balance shafts. Thanks for the tech tip! I'm just going to put the cams in and hope to go fast.

[doglover44]

Are there pictures of the car ?

[Billy Nees]

Click on the paper clip over by the thread rating, it will show you all of the pictures on the thread.
I figured that out all by myself!