lead_foot

On those engines with the crank position sensor, how does the reluctor ring work? I know that the ring is keyed so that it only goes on the crank one way. The question is "Is there a specific position on the reluctor ring that indicates #1 tdc?". I'm trying to understand if the position of the reluctor ring determines how the cam should be installed. i.e. with gear marks aligned or both at 12 o'clock.
:)

Nathan Plemons

Actually we came up with the solution that it doesn't matter. If the reluctor is installed properly on the crank and the cam is in time with the crank, it's the opti that determines which cylinder to fire. So it doesn't matter if you have 12 o'clock on the cam and 12 o'clock on the crank or 6 o'clock on the cam and 12 o'clock on the crank.

The crankshaft sensor has no way of knowing the difference, it just knows 1 & 6 are at TDC, if the cam is timed so that 6 is on the compression stroke then it will fire # 6 because the opti only goes on one way. If #1 is on the comrpession stroke it will fire.

As such I would put it on with the cam at 6 o'clock because it's easier to make sure it's lined up properly.

lead_foot

Cool. I thought I understood the relationships of the other pieces. It was the reluctor that I wasn't sure about. So it sounds like the reluctor doesn't have any affect on the cam installation.
So if you line up the dots on the cam gear and the crank gear and install everything else properly you can't go wrong. Good information.
:)