Are you saying to just get the Jim C chip and forgo the cam gear?

Ethan,

The exhaust cam gear is intended to retard the exhaust cam timing.

Jim Conforti has stated that his computer chip was developed using the stock cam gear.

Replacing the cam gear is much more involved than simply removing the valve cover, although it is probably within the realm of most do-it-yourselfers. Excellent instructions are available.

It is important to remember to keep tension on the chain when you've removed the gear or it can easily jump a tooth on the crankshaft sprocket. Also, check and recheck your cam timing before starting the car or else you will here some clickety-clacking that doesn't go away when the tensioner pumps up! That would be the valves hitting the pistons.

To me, the biggest pain is the lousy design of the timing chain tensioner.

Douglas