RE: Franco gear

[QSHIPQ@aol.com]

>  He paid $400 for it, but I imagine it is NLA. Anyone
>  have any clues where to get one?
>>I've never heard of anybody making a variable cam but George Franco of 
Franco 
>>Industries used to make a camshaft sprocket that did the same thing.  
>>Unfortunately, it won't work on 5-cylinder motors as it adjusts both the 
>>ignition and valve timing at the same time due to the fact that the 
>>distributor is driven off the back of the cam.
>>I had one of these for my 4-cylinder 4k way back when and probably still 
have 
>>it around somewhere ... I don't know if Franco Industries is still in 
>>business or not but I do recall the price I paid for it was $400.

Jeff:
FYI, I saw and drove one of those franco cams installed in Charlie Day's 83 
Urq, installed by his wrench, Mike G.  It indeed is possible to work, even 
with the turbo I5.  If I remember Mike's explanation correctly, he needed to 
decrease the range by a degree or so, but you might recall, that a car with a 
2312 code will still run.  And, since on startup the cam is back to stock 
alignment <0>, it will start as well.  His was installed on a WX motor, so no 
code storage.  An MC motor will store the 2312 code, so a remount of the ck 
engine light in the glove box might be a good accompianying modification.  

Franco used to adv in EC, I haven't seen an ad in 5 years or so.  BTW, I have 
also driven one in a n/a vw, and found little to brag about (supporting Ron 
Wood's experience).  Since Charle Days car had a whole bunch of 
modifications, I can only say that it didn't hurt performance any, and Mike G 
said it made a difference.  

HTH

Scott Justusson