Factory Timing Gear Orientation
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Factory Timing Gear Orientation
This ia a rookie question, but I seem to have confliciting direction when I look at several tech manuals. I am changing cams in my small block and the factory timing gear has an arrow. Should I have the arrow oriented at 1200 high or 6 oclock low as I put the timing chain on? When I put the timing cover back on should I have the top arrow at 1200 or 0600 for when I drop my distributor back in?
Thanks...I am at "all stop" until I resolve this.
DFS
Thanks...I am at "all stop" until I resolve this.
DFS
7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
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You better go read your info again.
http://www.compcams.com/Technical/In.../Files/172.pdf Page 2
http://www.compcams.com/Technical/In.../Files/172.pdf Page 2
Last edited by proz78silv; Feb 4, 2007 at 07:45 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Little Rock AR
Both #1 and #6 will be at TDC but only #6 is ready to fire. If you have the crank dot at 12:00 and the cam dot at 6:00 when you assemble the pieces, you want the disrtibutor to be pointing at the #6 spark plug wire tower when you drop it in. That is the confusing part.-Mark.
Le Mans Master
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Both #1 and #6 will be at TDC but only #6 is ready to fire. If you have the crank dot at 12:00 and the cam dot at 6:00 when you assemble the pieces, you want the disrtibutor to be pointing at the #6 spark plug wire tower when you drop it in. That is the confusing part.-Mark.
Yep
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Taylor Michigan
You better go read your info again.
http://www.compcams.com/Technical/In.../Files/172.pdf Page 2
http://www.compcams.com/Technical/In.../Files/172.pdf Page 2
Last edited by Ironcross; Feb 5, 2007 at 07:00 PM.
Racer
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From: Buffalo New York
Safety Car
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From: Youngstown Ohio
What often happens, though, is that people turn the engine after installing the heads and intake to feel for the compression stroke on #1 plug, then drop in the distributor (not being able to see the change in timing mark orientation).
Racer
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From: Buffalo New York
Team Owner
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From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
I guess I could cut a hole in the manifold to slide under the dist?
That way all the crank turning will prime the oil pump while I
set the valves, turn the pushrods and set the lash.
That way I wouldnot loose TDC #1 firing Position.
It is a sneaky position.....................
Thats for the advice
That way all the crank turning will prime the oil pump while I
set the valves, turn the pushrods and set the lash.
That way I wouldnot loose TDC #1 firing Position.
It is a sneaky position.....................
Thats for the advice
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
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From: New Cumberland PA
The original thread only mentioned a cam change. The heads do not have to come off for that.
I wouldn't worry about dropping in the distributor until after the valve lash is set. Some may want to drop in the distributor after installing the lifters, pushrods, and intake mainfold; prior to any rotation of the crank/cam.
I wouldn't worry about dropping in the distributor until after the valve lash is set. Some may want to drop in the distributor after installing the lifters, pushrods, and intake mainfold; prior to any rotation of the crank/cam.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
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From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
OK I agree
Manifold must come off to change cam.
Pictures show no heads.
I read the whole thread and see it side tracked to
#6 cyl vs #1 cyl
and talking about putting it in.....................
untill the manifold is on there is no place to put it.
Sooo I ask this , who puts dist in before manifold?
Manifold must come off to change cam.
Pictures show no heads.
I read the whole thread and see it side tracked to
#6 cyl vs #1 cyl
and talking about putting it in.....................
untill the manifold is on there is no place to put it.
Sooo I ask this , who puts dist in before manifold?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
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From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
This ia a rookie question, but I seem to have confliciting direction when I look at several tech manuals. I am changing cams in my small block and the factory timing gear has an arrow. Should I have the arrow oriented at 1200 high or 6 oclock low as I put the timing chain on? When I put the timing cover back on should I have the top arrow at 1200 or 0600 for when I drop my distributor back in?
Thanks...I am at "all stop" until I resolve this.
DFS
Thanks...I am at "all stop" until I resolve this.
DFS
Put everything back together and then---
Just before you drop the distributor in, remove the #1 plug. Stick your finger over the plug hole and crank the engine until it blows your finger off. Look at the timing mark on the balancer, then rotate the engine until the marks for "0" line up. Turn your distributor to point at the #1 plug wire tower, and drop it in. The oil pump shaft will probably NOT line up, so hold the distributor with a little bit of downward presssure and crank it over some more. The disty will drop right in. Now put your finger back in the #1 plug hole, crank it over until it blows your finger off, verify the rotor points at the #1 tower on the cap and the timing marks are close. Sounds like a lot. It's not and it works EVERYTIME!!!
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Thanks to all. Looks like the last post is doable.
But I wonder why you cant move the engine to #1 full compression, slide in the distributor, mount heads (less rocker arms) and intake manifold. Then put the rocker arms on and adjust them.
But I wonder why you cant move the engine to #1 full compression, slide in the distributor, mount heads (less rocker arms) and intake manifold. Then put the rocker arms on and adjust them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
When you adjust the valves, you're going to turn the engine over. No way around it. The procedure for adjusting hydraulic lifters is in every manual I've ever seen. And it's easy to follow. Just hang back on the disty- do it last.
Install the heads, intake, valve train, you can even install the carb. And if you want, you can install the disty. It'll work that way too. But you're still gonna' turn the engine to adjust the valves.
Install the heads, intake, valve train, you can even install the carb. And if you want, you can install the disty. It'll work that way too. But you're still gonna' turn the engine to adjust the valves.
Last edited by TimAT; Feb 5, 2007 at 11:45 PM.
Race Director
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From: Taylor Michigan
I have sold tons of timing sets and the number one question when a novis is doing the job and the engine will not start with the dots lined up. The simple explaination is that the engine was at 6 and not 1. Very obvious that not everybody knows this from my experience of selling timing sets. And so too on this forum from the questions asked.