What does LSA do for a cam?

Contents

1 What does LSA do for a cam?
2 How does cam LSA affect power?
- 2.1 Does retarding the cam timing increase compression?
- 2.2 How is LSA calculated?
3 What does advancing a cam do?

Airflow and LSA A wider LSA moves intake- and exhaust-valve events farther apart and creates less overlap, which hurts intake-wave tuning. “When you’ve properly tuned a performance motor, you create high- and low-pressure waves in the intake and exhaust that help cylinder filling,” said Comp Cams’ Billy Godbold.

How does cam LSA affect power?

A narrower LSA adopts more overlap and with it a lumpier idle and a narrower more specific power band. The narrower separation makes the engine sound choppier. On a naturally aspirated engine, the lobe separation angle has an effect on whether the engine reaches peak torque a little earlier or later in the rpm range.

What does a bigger cam do for an engine?

A bigger cam will open the intake valve wider, allowing more fuel and air into the cylinder. The larger the cam, the more fuel that is let in.

Does retarding the cam timing increase compression?

Effects of Changing the Cam Timing On the other hand, if the camshaft timing is retarded, the intake valve will close later (usually sometime during the compression stroke). It should be no surprise that this drops cranking compression and hurts low-rpm power.

How is LSA calculated?

To check your LSA you calculate it by adding the intake and exhaust Lobe Centerline figures together and dividing their sum by two (Ex: 112 intake Centerline + 116 exhaust Centerline = 228 / 2 = 114-degree LOBE SEPARATION ANGLE).

Should I advance my cam timing?

Not to be confused with ignition timing advance, advancing a camshaft will change the timing of the valve events in relation to where the crankshaft is positioned. Changing either affects engine performance, but a camshaft that is properly installed in an advanced position can noticeably improve performance.

What does advancing a cam do?

Advancing or retarding the cam pushes the centerline of the camshaft to one side or the other of the crankshaft centerline. This changes the Timing of the valve opening and closing events, in relation to the position of the piston in the cylinder.