[blykins]

Guys...stupid question....but I'm trying to think this out in my head....what I need to do is make a drawing...BUT....

Picture the engine with the piston half way up on the compression stroke.

If I retard the cam timing 4 degrees (by keeping the cam in the current spot and rotating the crank CCW to accomplish it), then the piston would move lower in the cylinder. Correct?

If that's true....then essentially the intake valve on is going to be open for a shorter period of time relative to the piston than with the cam timed straight up.

If I'm still thinking on the right track.....

With the cam timing straight up, the intake valve closed at 50 deg (@ .050") ABDC.

Now with the cam timing retarded 4 degrees, then that number should decrease.....correct? It should be 46 deg @ .050 ABDC.

Does all this sound right?

Some of you thinkers chime in on this....Ernie, you should be good at picturing this stuff in your head...

So theoretically, if I choose to retard the cam timing, then my DCR should go up....and I'd have to choose a thicker head gasket to compensate.

Right?