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Timing Chain help !

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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 01:09 PM
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Default Timing Chain help !

Havent done a timing chain in about 20 years, just want to make sure I remember correctly.

I have brought the engine to TDC by pulling #1 plug and tap ignition till compression stroke and distributor pointing at #1 spark plug wire and timing mark at 0. correct ?

I removed timing cover, the gear at the bottom has the line up dot right
at the top, but the cam gear dot is also at the top of that gear rather than the bottom, I thought they should be aligned dot to dot. Could the top gear be on wrong ? just want to make sure before I pull any gears off, any suggestions welcome. So far it was like riding a bike, it came apart very easily.
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 01:13 PM
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
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Top center on the compression stroke is with both dots straight up. If you put it together dot-to-dot like the "Chilton's" manual always shows, you will be on the exhaust stroke, and dropping your distributor in will result in the engine not firing. Correct installation is with both dots in the 12-o'clock position.
Lars
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 01:13 PM
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That is correct, you are at TDC for #1. Rotate the crank another 360* until the bots directly oppose each other. That is #6 TDC. Note the distributor rotor position so you can reinstall it correctly.

Last edited by big_G; Dec 30, 2006 at 01:15 PM.
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 01:21 PM
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Originally Posted by lars
Top center on the compression stroke is with both dots straight up. If you put it together dot-to-dot like the "Chilton's" manual always shows, you will be on the exhaust stroke, and dropping your distributor in will result in the engine not firing. Correct installation is with both dots in the 12-o'clock position.
Lars
Thats what it is now, both at 12 o clock, so just put it back together the same way, I should be good to go without pulling distributor, correct
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by big_G
That is correct, you are at TDC for #1. Rotate the crank another 360* until the bots directly oppose each other. That is #6 TDC. Note the distributor rotor position so you can reinstall it correctly.
So if I do it your way, bring both dots so they line up, mark where dist. is
and make sure it is the same place when done. Do I have to pull distbutor, I dont remember

Last edited by jdurhan; Dec 30, 2006 at 01:27 PM.
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 01:28 PM
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No need to pull the distributor if your not changing the cam. With the dots lined up (#6 firing) it's easier to be correct on installation.

Last edited by big_G; Dec 30, 2006 at 01:31 PM.
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 01:29 PM
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
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You don't have to pull the distributor to change the chain and gear. If you pull it with both dots together, just put the new one on the same way. No problem. I always like to do it with both dots straight up so I know I'm at TDC #1 compression... just in case I screw something up I know where I started.
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 02:04 PM
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Thanks guys for your help, as I said its been a long time since i pulled a motor apart but I thought I'd give it a try and so far all is good and feels good doing it myself. I love this forum.
Thanks again, have a great new year!
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 02:09 PM
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Thank you, and Happy New Year to you too.
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Old Dec 30, 2006 | 04:43 PM
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Originally Posted by lars
Top center on the compression stroke is with both dots straight up. If you put it together dot-to-dot like the "Chilton's" manual always shows, you will be on the exhaust stroke, and dropping your distributor in will result in the engine not firing. Correct installation is with both dots in the 12-o'clock position.
Lars

That's true no matter the cam? Roller, flats...ect...all the same? what about that alternate firing order cam?
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 07:17 AM
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If you install the chain and gears with both dots at 12 o'clock, the engine is in position to fire the #1 cylinder. Dot to dot is firing #6.
The alternate 7/4 cams, rollers, hyd, solids, no difference.

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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 10:13 AM
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
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That's correct. Both dots straight up is always TDC #1 compression, no matter what cam you have.
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by lars
That's correct. Both dots straight up is always TDC #1 compression, no matter what cam you have.

Sweet. Thanks Lars.
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 02:14 PM
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The aftermarket double roller that I got from Napa shows on the back of the packaging that it should be set up "dot (top sprocket at 6 o'clock) to dot (bottom sprocket at 12 o'clock). Comparing the original top sprocket (with nylon teeth, ugh) it matches up to the Napa one (ie dots 180 apart, top and bottom)...

Anyone else run into this?
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by 77BuffaloVet
The aftermarket double roller that I got from Napa shows on the back of the packaging that it should be set up "dot (top sprocket at 6 o'clock) to dot (bottom sprocket at 12 o'clock). Comparing the original top sprocket (with nylon teeth, ugh) it matches up to the Napa one (ie dots 180 apart, top and bottom)...

Anyone else run into this?

I heard, when I was installing my roller chain and gears, to set the dots up like you just said. The cam gear at 6 o'clock and the crank gear at 12 o'clock. That's how I did it, and was going to change it at the behest of Lars and the guys...but I'm second guessing myself again.
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 05:24 PM
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anyone? Lars? It seems the only way to make it work with both dots at 12 is to turn the cam sprocket around and then the bolts don't sit flat...
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by TimAT
If you install the chain and gears with both dots at 12 o'clock, the engine is in position to fire the #1 cylinder. Dot to dot is firing #6.

2 crank revolutions = 1 cam revolution.
So it doesn't matter which way as long as the you turn it to #1 compression TDC to intall the distributer.

I personally match the dots and then turn to #1
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 09:43 PM
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So I just installed a Edelbrock Double roller timing chain and it had me set the dot facing each other. So the top pulley marker was at 6 and the lower smaller pulley was set at 12 while cylinder #1 was at TDC. But this could still be wrong because it could not be on the power stroke?

Jim
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 09:54 PM
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#1 is not on the power stroke, #6 is.
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 10:07 PM
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Originally Posted by big_G
#1 is not on the power stroke, #6 is.
So what is the correct way to set this up? Move the larger pully to 12 o'clock too? with #1 TDC?
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