Alright, with the help of some local H-T members I finally got my Skunk2 Stage 1 cams in, with new Skunk2 Gears. I ordered my VAFC a week ago and am still waiting for it, but here's my situation.

The install went very smoothly, with the exception of 1 bolt breaking, but other than that it went very well. I started the car up and let it get to operating temperature via idle. The idle was very lumpy and bounces around between 600-800 (general area) RPM's at idle. Pretty normal for Skunk Stage 1's??

Also, after installing the everything, I noticed that the Cam Gears were off. The intake ended up being retarded -2 degrees and the Exhaust was retarded -1 degree. I tried briefly to adjust the cams, by loosening the 6 allen nuts with no luck. So....how do I go about changing the gears? I'll most likely leave them at 0,0 for now until I get my VAFC and get to a dyno. Also, I've heard that Skunk2 Gears are off by either a tooth, or a degree? Any truth to that...?

Ok, so after being warmed up I ripped on the highway. NO Low end what so ever, which is what I expected, VTEC then kicked in at 4400 RPMs, which of course is way way too low and my car lagged once again, then 6000+ came around and the car pulled if anything the same or less than what my GS-R cams would do.

I'm sure everyone will tell me to tune it and dyno it, which is what I'll do, but would it make my car this slow? Also, can anyone explain to me about retarding/advancing (Sorry Bryant/Brandon)?

Thanks for reading this....

 

i think u cam gears may be the prob. should of been at 0,0 after install w/ no adj.
also check u timing. 14-16 but u may want to go up to 18 for tuning.

 

Hey Carrot, I had the SAME exact problem. Nothing to worry about too much. It was real laggy when I got my car in. I was told to get an FPR since the stock Fuel Pressure is around low 30's, and Skunk2 reccomends 48psi. So I bought that and got that in. Helped out a little bit. But still laggy and slower than my stock GS-R cams. So we tried adjusting the cam gears to what Skunk2 Reccomended (I had 0,0 settings as well), and it was MUCH better.

I gaurantee your car will feel much better after you adjust the cam gears. Makes a WORLD of a difference! Went to the Dyno and tuned my VAFC a little and got a WHOLE lot of mid/Top end power.


I think the idle isn't as Smooth as the Stock cams, since my Skunk2 Stage 1 cams are a little shaky also. My car died 3 times at a stop because my Idle was bad. After leaning out the bottom a little, the car doesnt die anymore, and the idle isn't as bad either. It fluctuates between 700-800rpm also (like your car). I think its normal for these Skunk2 Stage 1 cams.

As for your main concern about the power, don't worry too much. Just take it to the Dyno and let them tune your car by adjusting your Cam Gears and VAFC. Your car will feel MUCH MUCH better.


If you get a Skunk2 Intake Manifold along with your setup, you'll gain even more. A noticeable amount. I'm tryin to get me one along with a Free flowing exhaust. Those two things are holding me back considerably since I'm running on Stock Intake Manifold, Stock TB, and Stock Exhaust. I got all my fuel stuff goin and smooth/fast airflow, but it gets muffled like a biatch in the exhaust category...


Don't worry about it too much. Just take it to the Dyno.

 

until u get a VAFC( which will make a world of difference) keep your gears at 0,0. like i said, dont expect anything till ya get a vafc. raise the x-over to at least 5k, then start messin with ur gears. maybe advance the intake cam 2 degrees and leave the exhaust for starters. after the vafc, the next step would to get a pressure regulator.

your timimg should be around 16-18 degrees.

 

all this rant about the VAFC doesnt make sense.
these cams are a plug and play (sort of speak). u should have no probs with idle or performance after installation. VAFC helps u lean out as our cars are already rich. ECU should help with any a/f problems. VAFC is not the answer to everything.
i think once u get ur car running close to stock then think about tuning w/ VAFC, fpr, and cam gears.
after i got ITR cams and aem cam gears put in, i tuned with just the cams w/ no fuel tuning whatsoever.

any input? FWIW, i do have VAFC and adj. FPR


[Modified by stick, 10:50 AM 9/11/2002]

 

they are not exactly plug and play. close but not quite. i guess i should have said some sort of vtec controller. the reason for that is to get rid of the huge dip when vtec hits at 4400. even with type r cams u felt a lag until u raised the vtec. i definately did. the fuel tuning will have to be perfected on the dyno


[Modified by MaliceGSR, 11:02 AM 9/11/2002]

 

Malice is correct. With the stock Vtec x-over at 4400rpm, you'll definately feel a lag and loss of power. You need to raise it above 5000rpm to get rid of that lag. Mine is set at 5500rpm, but might consider raising it even more to about 5700rpm.

 

Thanks everyone for the responses, I'm just really surprised that there is no increase what so ever?? I'm sure the main reason is because of my cam gear settings, -1,-2. Also, maybe this is a complete newbie question, but after loosening the 6 allen nuts on the actual gear, how do I adjust the cam gears? Also is there any truth to Skunk2's gears being off a little bit?

I have school all day today so I won't be able to mess around with my car until later at night and I'll let everyone know how its running.

 

just loosen the bolts, put ur hand on top of the gear and turn it with a wrench. wrench goes on the bolt that holds the cam gear on the cam


[Modified by MaliceGSR, 1:06 PM 9/11/2002]

 

Yes. One of mine is off 1 degree and the other a 1/2 degree. Advanced the intake cam for more Vtec power.

 

Skunk2 Cam Gears are off. Well most of them are. That's why you should goto the Dyno and let them set the Cam Gears to the best setting possible...

 

As I'm driving the car more and more, the top end does feel a bit (slightly) beefier up top. I have class until 10 o'clock, but after that I'll advance my gears or at least leave them at 0,0 for now. Also, if I decide to go Intake +1 and Exhaust 0, what should I do with adjusting the timing? How hard is it to do...?

Thanks again!

 

BTW, I forgot to mention, my idle is very weird.

Most of the time it will idle from 500 (To the white line where it almost dies) to 900 RPM's and then out of no where it will idle fine at 700ish, while still being lumpy. Should I have any concern?

 

put ur cams back to 0,0 and double check the timimg. it should get better

 

I had the same exact problem. I leaned out the bottom a bit with my VAFC and it was much better. You should try it also.