So, I'm going through my 1.8 and doing a balance shaft delete and decided to do 4g63 cam sprocket, since I had one laying around.

The problem is that this sprocket is a half tooth off from stock (see attached). I lined up the old sprocket to TDC and slapped on the new one to find it lined up perfectly in between the teeth. Please note the dimple on the sprocket is what I added after just holding the two gears up and judging where it needed to be. The sharpie mark shows where the dimple is on the old gear.

Will this even make a difference? Should I have it advanced a half tooth? Or retarded half? Or nix this altogether and stick with stock?

As a side note, I had to grind some off the bolts sitting right behind the cam sprocket for it to clear. I've never seen anyone mention this, and it makes me wonder if what I have is not truly off a 4g63

I guess I could always drill another dowel hole on the other side.

From: 2.0 cams on 1.8

BlackMount said:

I too have personally ran a 2.0L Cam gear on a 1.8L because they are about half the weight possibly less then the 1.8's cam gear. there is slight modification required to the timing shield behind the cam gear in between the head. I just removed mine. but if you want to leave it on, you have to shave down the heads of the bolts otherwise the cam gear will get caught on them...

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1gdsmftw said:

as blackmount stated...its as easy as just pulling it off the 2.0 cam and putting it on the 1.8 cam

AFTER

milling the camgear down a little to make it easier to fit the belt on without over stretching....and modifying the sheild...mainly just shaving the bolts heads back a little...which u could ###### just get thinner headed bolts if u can find them..

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No idea on whether it is supposed to be advanced or retarded though.

19Eclipse90 said:

From: 2.0 cams on 1.8




No idea on whether it is supposed to be advanced or retarded though.

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Thanks! I found that thread, but must have missed that about the bolt heads.

So, I'm more confident I've got my hands on a genuine 4g63 cam gear, but what are others doing about this "between the teeth" issue? I'm assuming most people must not notice. I'm sure the motor still runs decently either way, but still, it's a difference. What to do..

It doesnt make a big enough difference, do it either advanced or retarded, retarded would be a safer bet though.

Why don't you just run the stock gear what is it you're trying to do here? The belts aren't even the same width.

motomattx said:

It doesnt make a big enough difference, do it either advanced or retarded, retarded would be a safer bet though.

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Thanks! That's what I'll do.

pauleyman said:

Why don't you just run the stock gear what is it you're trying to do here? The belts aren't even the same width.

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The point is just to remove a small amount of weight from the engine's rotating components. I've already milled it down, so the width is not an issue.

You'e going to all this trouble over weight?

pauleyman said:

You'e going to all this trouble over weight?

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People have done a lot more for a lot less. Why does this surprise you on a forum called DSMtuners? The point is to make these things as fast as possible in spite of all logic that tries to convince us otherwise. Sorry I like working on my junk.

If you marked it exactly where the timing mark was on the other gear, and your timing mark on the crank lines up, the engine is timed. Doesn’t really matter where the teeth are. If you rotate it a few times and the marks line back up your good to go.

Great part of the 1.8L is it’s a non interference motor and super easy to work on so no harm in anything timing related. It’s not like the 2.0L when you screw it up and your out for a new head