Has anyone degreed in a cam on a DOD crankshaft? Are the keyways in a DOD crankshaft cut to a different position than a standard NON-DOD crankshaft?

Reason I ask is I recently installed a new aftermarket isky cam. Originally just threw the cam in 2* advanced and ran it. Car ran horrible. So I got out the degree wheel and an OEM timing set. Come to find the cam is 6.5*retarded to the cam card “Dot to Dot” with an OEM gear set. (8.5* total!) I thought I had a bad cam so I ordered another. I got the exact same 6.5* retarded reading “Dot to Dot”. With an adjustable timing set I was able to get the cam to degree in .5* Adv from the cam card spec. Put the car back together and it’s a monster. Went from 160-195+ cranking compression. Sounds completely different, revs faster and makes a ton more power.

IMO I’ve pretty much eliminated the timing set’s as I have used 1 older OEM set and one brand new OEM set with the same results. And I’ve eliminated the camshaft error. 1 or 2 degrees may still be in the camshafts, but the majority I believe to be in the crank keyway positioning.

Anyone else degree a cam in on a DOD 5.3? (LC9 I believe, 2008 alum 5.3, no variable timing on this one) If you didn’t and your down on power, you may want to!

 

check the stickey on the gmt900 forum.

 

Which sticky? My setup didn't have VVT. So I don't think that that applies? It was DOD engine only.

thanks!

 

oops my bad.