Adjusting the cam gear to the ___________ setting moves the torque curve to a higher rpm range than stock.

Adjusting the cam gear to the ___________ setting moves the torque curve to a higher rpm range than stock.

• A. Advance
• B. Retard
• C. Neutral
• D. None

Answer: (B)

Cam timing controls when the intake and exhaust valves open and close in the engine cycle. Setting the cam timing to a retarded position delays those valve events. That delay reduces how effectively the engine fills at low RPM, so low-end torque drops, while at higher RPM the engine can breathe better with the later events, moving the peak torque to a higher RPM. So adjusting to the retarded setting shifts the torque curve upward in rpm compared to stock. The tradeoff is less low-end response and potential top-end gains. Neutral would leave timing as stock, and advancing would push the torque peak to lower RPMs.

Cam timing controls when the intake and exhaust valves open and close in the engine cycle. Setting the cam timing to a retarded position delays those valve events. That delay reduces how effectively the engine fills at low RPM, so low-end torque drops, while at higher RPM the engine can breathe better with the later events, moving the peak torque to a higher RPM. So adjusting to the retarded setting shifts the torque curve upward in rpm compared to stock. The tradeoff is less low-end response and potential top-end gains. Neutral would leave timing as stock, and advancing would push the torque peak to lower RPMs.