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Degreeing a cam in...

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Old Jul 10, 2004 | 01:09 PM
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derek_silvy's Avatar
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Default Degreeing a cam in...

I still haven't decide on my cam yet, but I need to know one more thing before I am 100% comfortable installing it myself.

When I put the new cam in, is it as simple as keeping cylinder #1 at TDC, rotating some marking on the cam to 6 o'clock?
I mean, does the cam sprocket just bolt onto the cam any way, or are there certain alingment holes that make it fit right?
Are there any markings on the block to go with, or am I just going to have to eyeball it? If I eyeball it, it seems like there is no way it couldn't be off a few degrees, which would probobly make a huge difference in performance, correct?

Also, when people talk about advancing a cam and stuff, do they just bump it a few degrees (clockwise) past 6 o'oclock?

Thanks a lot guys,
Derek
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Old Jul 10, 2004 | 01:58 PM
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The sproket will only go on one way, on the cam and on the crank. Both the cam gear and the crank gear have a dot on them. When you #1 piston is at TDC, you line the 2 dots up and install the chain. You'll have to mess with it a few times to get it. Basically, do this:
1. Hold cam gear with chain on it.
2. Slide the bottom of the chain onto the crank gear.
3. push the cam sproket and chain onto the cam.
4. If dots aren't lined up, pull off and rotate the cam sproket until they line up.
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Old Jul 10, 2004 | 08:25 PM
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you could just put the cam gear onto the cam minus the chain rotate it til the dot lines up with the crank dot that you should have sitting at 12 oclock. once that right just slide the gear off put the chain on it them slip it back on. its just easier to adjust with out the chain first. also just pull the oil pump off so you can see better. itas four bolts holind it to the block and one bolt for the pick up tube. tie a string or wire around the pick up tube so it doesnt fall into the pan. when putting it back together make sure the oring on the end of the pick up tube is lubed well and slip them together. you may have to do a raotaing motion to get it to go smoothly. its no big deal at all and it makes it easy to see the crank gear and dot.

oh and to verify that you have them lined up right. rotate the crank twice after you line them up. if they realign then you did it right.
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Old Jul 10, 2004 | 09:15 PM
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The above instructions are correct as long as you do not have a multiple keyway crank gear (timing set which can be installed straight up, advanced or retarded). If it does, make sure you use the correct keyway on the crank gear and that you line up the correct marks. You should only have one mark on the cam gear, but there should be two sets of marks on the crank gear for each keyway. One of the marks denotes which keyway is what, and the other mark, that should be identical, is the one you align with the mark on the cam gear. I have done these many times, and still screwed up once, and it was on my own damnit. I think working on it late at night after several beers was the key factor on that one.
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