Retarding 350x cam for more top,less bottom end

[lynitup82]

I have an old article from around 85 where the mag did a blueprinted stock build on a 200x motor. This included retarding the cam about 4 deg by slotting the the cam gear bolts and doing valve angle work. It added a few hp and added 5mph top end due to higher revs. It also included flow charts on the head before and after.

Was this ever a thing to do on the 350x's before the aftermarket cam companies started grinding the cams?
I fully understand degreeing cams and how in changes the powerband, and i figured the X could lose some bottom end power.

Thanks

[SWIGIN]

I normally degree every cam I install, so yes it is a thing to do...lol

But IMO I'd just get a aftermarket cam and start from there.

[big specht]

What kind of adapter do you have for the degree wheel to crank and do you have a cut up cam cover that makes it easyer to change the cam timing with out removing the cover to change it every time???

[SWIGIN]

I took the easy way. I mounted the degree wheel to the flywheel, as long as you know that the cam turns a half turn for every turn of the crank it's simple.