Cam degree dilemma

You are forgetting a huge point --- and that is the whole POINT of degreeing a cam is so that you can CORRECT an incorrect timing issue, or if you are using the cam "for a different purpose" IE want to move the torque band up or down, you can "put the cam where you think it will do the most good."

There could be several variables here-------

the cam could be ground a tad off

the cam drive could be a tad off

the crank key could be a smidgeon off

the block line bore could be somewhat shifted

ALL these factors and probably more (RE: Murphy's Law) could possibly add up in the one direction you don't "wish."

That's why we have cam drives which you can change, offset bushings, keys, etc

TDC:

You say you think you did this correctly, just HOW did you do it? Describe?

So far as the cam being "right or wrong" if you have the cam card, IE timing events, you can plot them, and if the ICL is off a little you can add the difference while plotting them