Here's what I think (and remember this is pure speculation).
VCT is capable of advancing or retarding timing a whole 2 degrees on the exhaust cam. Wow. 2 frickin' degrees
What good does that do? Does it
really give emissions any benefit? BTW, that's the entire purpose of VCT - emissions control - not horsepower.
Ford put allllll this time and effort into designing and instating this component so there has to be a reason. I blame bureaucrats. This seems to be a move to appease the Feds in some form.
Ford was going in a very specific direction with this platform, but I don't know what it was. How many other cars from the time do you see running around with CNG stickers on 'em? I can say NONE unless I'm on a military base.
So CNG and VCT were probably part of a plan Ford had to either receive a kickback from the government on the manufacture of the cars, just
barely meet or exceed some current or upcoming pollution regulation or to guarantee sales for use on Federal installations.
FYI, I'm not running around w/ a tin foil hat on
I just find it odd that such an expensive part was created and it really does nothing except cause problems.
EDIT: thanks again for the s/n suggestion Cris'pus
