Drag Cartel Adjustable Intake Cam Gear for K Series

Drag Cartel Adjustable Intake Cam Gear - Honda/Acura K Series

If you've swapped in aftermarket cams on your K series, an adjustable cam gear isn't optional - it's the difference between leaving power on the table and actually extracting what you paid for. The factory gear locks your cam timing at a position that was calibrated for the stock cam profile. Your aftermarket cams have a completely different lobe profile. That mismatch costs you power. The Drag Cartel adjustable intake cam gear lets you dial in cam timing in 1-degree increments so you and your tuner can find the exact sweet spot for your specific build. It's machined from 8620 billet steel and carburized to aircraft spec for long-term wear resistance.

Why Adjustable Cam Timing Matters

Aftermarket cams - whether you're running Drag Cartel Stage 2s, Brian Crower, or any other profile - open and close your valves at different points in the engine cycle than stock. The factory cam gear positions your intake cam at a fixed timing point designed around the stock lobe profile. When you change the cam, that fixed position no longer lines up with peak airflow into your combustion chamber.

Advancing the intake cam (opening the intake valve earlier) typically pulls power into the low and mid range - useful for street cars and boosted builds. Retarding it (opening later) tends to favor top-end power - more common on high-revving naturally aspirated setups. Where your specific combination lands depends on your cams, head work, intake, exhaust, and intended RPM range. That's why you tune it on the dyno. There's no universal answer, and anyone telling you otherwise is guessing.

Intake Cam Only

This is the intake cam gear only. Most K series tuners adjust intake timing and leave the exhaust cam at factory timing - that's a completely valid approach and it's where you'll see the biggest gains. If you want to adjust exhaust cam timing as well, you'll need a separate exhaust cam gear. Running both adjustable gears opens up more tuning flexibility, but also adds complexity to your dyno session.

8620 Billet Steel, Carburized to Aircraft Spec

Drag Cartel machines this gear from 8620 billet steel - the same alloy used in performance gearsets because of its excellent core toughness and case-hardening characteristics. After machining, the gear is carburized to aircraft specification. That process diffuses carbon into the surface layer of the steel, creating a hard outer shell over a tough core. The result is gear teeth that are significantly harder than the factory cast gear, which matters when you're running aggressive cams with high spring pressures. The center is polished and laser-etched with the Drag Cartel logo.

Fitment - Read This Before You Buy

This gear fits K20 and K24 engines through the 8th gen Civic Si. It does not fit the 9th gen Civic Si (K24Z7) or the 10th gen and newer (K24W). Those engines use a different cam gear bolt pattern and design. If you're unsure which engine you have, check your VIN or confirm the engine code before ordering.

Compatible Engines

• K20A2 (2002-2004 Acura RSX Type-S)
• K20Z1 (2005-2006 Acura RSX Type-S)
• K20Z3 (2006-2011 Honda Civic Si)
• K24A2 (2004-2008 Acura TSX)
• K24A8 (2006-2007 Honda Accord)

Does NOT Fit

• K24Z7 (2012-2015 Honda Civic Si, 2013-2015 Acura ILX)
• K24W (2016+ Honda Civic Si, 2016+ Honda Accord)

Fits Your Car

• 2002-2006 Acura RSX Type-S (K20A2, K20Z1)
• 2004-2008 Acura TSX (K24A2)
• 2006-2007 Honda Accord (K24A8)
• 2006-2011 Honda Civic Si (K20Z3)

Important: Get a dyno tune after installing adjustable cam gears. Drag Cartel includes a recommended base timing setting as a starting point, but your final number depends on your exact combination. Setting cam timing wrong won't just cost you power - on high-lift cams with tight piston-to-valve clearances, incorrect timing can cause piston-to-valve contact. Don't skip the tune.

Pair this with a set of Drag Cartel Racing cams and get everything dialed in together. If you're building a complete K series top end, check out what else Drag Cartel Racing has in their lineup.