Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Cam degreeing question. Cam is off.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-09-2017, 09:27 PM
  #1  
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
 
Cmg393's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Cam degreeing question. Cam is off.

Hey guys! I'm degreeing my cam and I have the SNS stage 2. It has a 110+3 and after measuring I'm getting a 104. How do I fix this with my adjustable timing set? Do I just add +6 in timing?
Thanks for all the help in advance.
Old 10-09-2017, 09:38 PM
  #2  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
 
HappySalesman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 1,155
Received 39 Likes on 35 Posts
Default

Getting a 104 what? Intake Centerline? IVO,IVC?
Old 10-09-2017, 09:50 PM
  #3  
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
 
Cmg393's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by HappySalesman
Getting a 104 what? Intake Centerline? IVO,IVC?
I bought the ls comp degree kit and after finding TDC on piston 1 I lined up the dial indicator to the piston 1 intake lifter with the heads off and measured the degrees .05 from max lift both ways and after adding them together and dividing them my 2 I got 104. I'm not sure if that helps answer your question. I'm sorry if it doesn't. :/
Old 10-09-2017, 09:56 PM
  #4  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
 
HappySalesman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 1,155
Received 39 Likes on 35 Posts
Default

How did you find TDC? Did you use a piston stop?

It sounds like you're trying to find your intake centerline. This has nothing to do with your LSA, which is the 110+3 number you listed. The ICL should be listed on your cam card.

When I measure for ICL I usually measure at several points. Starting at .030 before and after peak lift, then go to .050, then usually somewhere around .070.

Remember that ICL is usually just theoretical. Oftentimes cam lobes are asymmetrical so when you see .070 on the closing side it could be a few degrees past what you saw on the opening side.
Old 10-09-2017, 11:47 PM
  #5  
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
 
Cmg393's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by HappySalesman
How did you find TDC? Did you use a piston stop?

It sounds like you're trying to find your intake centerline. This has nothing to do with your LSA, which is the 110+3 number you listed. The ICL should be listed on your cam card.

When I measure for ICL I usually measure at several points. Starting at .030 before and after peak lift, then go to .050, then usually somewhere around .070.

Remember that ICL is usually just theoretical. Oftentimes cam lobes are asymmetrical so when you see .070 on the closing side it could be a few degrees past what you saw on the opening side.
I used the dial to find the highest point for piston number one. And used that as TDC. I don't have the cam card but after looking it up the cam is supposed to have an ICL of 107. So do I need to add 3 to make the ICL from 104 to 107?
Old 10-10-2017, 03:44 AM
  #6  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
 
HappySalesman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 1,155
Received 39 Likes on 35 Posts
Default

You can't degree your cam correctly using a dial indicator. There's about 4 degrees of dwell time where the piston is at TDC while the crank is still rotating. Use a piston stop to find true TDC. They're pretty cheap.

I would see if you can get the cam card for your cam. I'm assuming since you don't have one you bought it used?
Old 10-10-2017, 07:06 AM
  #7  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
vettenuts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Little Rhody
Posts: 8,092
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts

Default

Concur. Don't think you have accurately established your TDC for the piston. If that is off all other measurements will be wrong.
Old 10-10-2017, 07:09 AM
  #8  
KCS
Moderator
iTrader: (20)
 
KCS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Conroe, TX
Posts: 8,848
Received 307 Likes on 207 Posts

Default

I use a deck bridge with a dial indicator to find TDC. I find TDC the same way as lobe centerline; I note the degree at a certain value before and after TDC but then set the pointer to split the difference.

For example, if I see the piston is .050" in the hole on the way up at 10 degrees BTDC and again on the way down at 2 degrees ATDC, I'll set the pointer to 6 degrees ATDC when it's .050" on the way down.
Old 10-10-2017, 11:35 AM
  #9  
Moderator
iTrader: (4)
 
Darth_V8r's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: My own internal universe
Posts: 10,446
Received 1,836 Likes on 1,145 Posts
Default

I used KCS method when I did mine.

OP asked a question - If I'm getting 104 and should be at 107, do I just add three degrees?

Answer (for the sake of argument, assume OP numbers are perfect) -- No. When you see +3 on the timing set, that advances the cam, so your 104 would go to a 101. You'd want to go -3 to retard the cam to get from 104 to 107.

Side bar -- I'm not a fan of the "adjustable" timing sets. I much prefer the multi-keyed sets, which allow you to set the timing by clocking the crank pulley. These don't slip. But that's probably more of a personal preference.

FWIW to Happy Salesman's point: Most of Tick's shelf cams were designed by Martin Smallwood, and he definitely uses assymetrical lobes. In a perfect world, 110+3 is telling you that the LSA is 110, ICL is 107 (The +3 means advanced 3 degrees), and the ECL is 113. Also, though, I thought tick switched from comp to cam motion for their grinds. If your cam is a cam motion grind, then the cam should have come with a cam Dr report. If it did, you should be able to install it straight up, since the cam was verified on a different machine after it was ground.
Old 10-10-2017, 06:25 PM
  #10  
Staging Lane
 
NA99T/A's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: central ky
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I actually just ordered this exact cam a couple weeks ago, havent had the chance to put it in yet though. But they are a cam motion grind cam. I could post a copy of my cam dr report if you would find it useful
Old 10-10-2017, 08:56 PM
  #11  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
 
HappySalesman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 1,155
Received 39 Likes on 35 Posts
Default

Never thought of doing it that way KCS. That's pretty good though. Next motor I build I'll remember that.
Old 10-11-2017, 07:03 PM
  #12  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (47)
 
rpturbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: A-Town, Ill side
Posts: 2,362
Received 195 Likes on 162 Posts

Default

Steve Morris has a great video on how to do this. I know it cleared up some of my questions the first time I did one.
Old 10-12-2017, 12:58 PM
  #13  
Teching In
 
freeridesnomore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 30
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

I done my TDC same as KCS worked perfect you dont have to have a positive stop.



Quick Reply: Cam degreeing question. Cam is off.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:48 AM.