Cam phase suggestion advice

Cudabeen said
The cam card reads 2 degrees btdc on the intake @ .050, but I'm getting just a tick past tdc and as well the card reads a 4 degree (advance) machined in hence the 108 ICL, whereas I'm reading a tick over 110 so both numbers corroborate. I mean at the end of the day we're hoping to get more than 100hp! This dog motor got my son through high school without a stupid power incident, it literally could not spin a tire! Now he's a bit more mature and so we're having some fun especially doing the build.
But yes, now to deal with the p/v clearance, but I have a plan and will hopefully figure out to post a couple of pics.

The discrepancy between what you're seeing at .050, and what the card says is simply because they 'grind in' 4 degrees of advance, meaning they grind it such that the specs on the card will only match (or should be real close) if you put it in on their recommended 108 ICL. (4 degrees advanced from the 112/'straight up' position). I think you had that figured out but yeah the cam's technically not retarded it's just not as advanced..
And something to keep in mind--even the best chains will stretch a bit and back timing up a degree or two at the least. So, if you run it where it is, you might as well consider it timed 'straight up' after a couple thousand miles.
(Unless you're running a gear drive..:D)