Degreeing a cam

Ideally you want a cam that is installed within 2* of it's straight-up centerline. If you are degreeing a cam more than that (especially when retarding it) you are laming it out and doing more harm than good.

The centerline of the camshaft has the largest affect on performance than any other part or combination of parts. The centerline of a camshaft can mean anything from zero horsepower to "lotsa" horsepower. With a quality timing set you can degree a camshaft in 2* increments and 2* makes a VERY large difference in performance. So to answer Question 1: Yes, there is a difference in performance, and generally, most cams perform well advanced, hence the reason Comp grinds their cams with +4* built into them.

When a camshaft is advanced, the power curve of the motor is shifted down a few hundred RPM (generally speaking). When it is retarded, the power curve of the motor is shifted up a few hundred RPM. Since the Steeda 19 is such a mild cam, I don't think you would notice too much lost RPM up top. You should have tons of low-speed torque though.

Joe

Steve (and Joe correct me if I am wrong) I think with your intake and cam combo, your car may have actually performed better with it retarded a few degrees since the added cubes of the stroker (given all else being equal to your 302 setup) would have sucked a few hundred rpm out of the peaks. The retarding of the cam, like Joe said, will typically shift your powerband up a little higher in the rpm range which in this case could be beneficial with the added cubes, but ultimately it may be limited by the cobra intake.

JFYI- when you get an FTI cam it comes with two intake centerlines dependent on the weight of the car. In my dad's NA 91GT he was borderline on the weight and IC recommendations so we installed it at the RETARDED setting. At the track the car just didn't perform right, so we advanced it 2* and BAM the car immediately responded with a gain of 2-3mph in trap speeds... but on the dyno it lost 10rwhp at the peak! All I can say is that you should run and dyno it where its at now, and if it runs out of steam too early, retarding it "may" help move the rpm band up but as I said the intake might limit any changes in the rpm range of the powerband made here due to the runner length and volume.