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Author
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Topic: should i degree the cam?
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chevy enemy
Gearhead Posts: 345
From: Milton-Freewater, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 06-24-2003 02:11 AM
   
i picked up my new timing chain today and it has three diffrent ways u can put it on 1.u can put it on 2 degrees retarded of he factory OEM setting 2. u can put it on to the factory OEM setting 3. u can put it on 2 degrees advanced of the OEM setting. the box says that if u advance it it will increase low end torque or if u retard it it will increase high end torque. i was thinkin of advancing it what is your guys`s opinion??------------------
Tyler Shaffer
M&M`s youngest member
`64 falcon futura soon will be and in the process of being a 5.0 powered falcon
`51 willys jeep
`73 plymouth duster 318 5.33 suregrip
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ukracer
Journeyman Posts: 65
From: South Wales UK
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 06-24-2003 11:27 AM
Probably the best way to install the cam is the way the manufacturer says. Advancing or retarding will only give small changes and could introduce problems. Do yourself a favour though, ignore the timing marks and degree the cam properly. Why? Well, the last 4 timing chain sets I have fitted to engines have been wrong and would have put the cam advanced or retarded if I had blindly trusted the marks. Some people here say we are sent duff stuff from America, you wouldn't do that to us would you? Fitted a Pete Jackson gear drive to a Pontiac 400 the other day and I was impressed with the accuracy, only 1 degree out! (Could have been me, so I allowed it to pass.)Degree it!
Cheers, Martin.[This message has been edited by ukracer (edited 06-24-2003).]
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 6522
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 06-24-2003 08:53 PM
Tyler,Yes you should if you want it perfect. But you probably wouldn't notice if it was a couple degrees out anyway. So at your stage in the hotrodding game I say, set it straight up and call it good.  SteveW
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jsracingbbf
Gearhead Posts: 1677
From: Batesville,MS. , U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 06-25-2003 01:59 AM
Always degree your cam, even in a street motor. It doesn't happen very often BUT I know of at least two guys that found the cam ground WAY OFF and had to send it back. The new computer machines they are ground on make that less likely but it does happen. At the veryleast you should degree it to check that when it is set at straight up it is indeed straight up.
JS
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 6522
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 06-25-2003 10:30 AM
Tyler,Aren't you reusing the original cam that came in your 302 short block? SteveW
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chevy enemy
Gearhead Posts: 345
From: Milton-Freewater, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 06-25-2003 01:18 PM
yes it is the original cam and it is a roller engine i found that out yesterday when i took one of the lifters out------------------
Tyler Shaffer
M&M`s youngest member
`64 falcon futura soon will be and in the process of being a 5.0 powered falcon
`51 willys jeep
`73 plymouth duster 318 5.33 suregrip
IP: Logged |
steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 6522
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 06-25-2003 01:38 PM
Tyler,Very cool!  Just line the timing marks up on your new chain and you'll be fine. 
If you were building a new engine I would degree the cam, but not when just changing the timing chain on a stock shortblock. SteveW
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fordfan
Gearhead Posts: 2871
From: Walla Walla, Wa, USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 06-27-2003 04:09 PM
quote:
Originally posted by chevy enemy:
i found that out yesterday when i took one of the lifters out
When YOU took the lifter out?! 
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ted
Journeyman Posts: 27
From: Central Texas
Registered: May 2003
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posted 06-27-2003 10:21 PM
You should always check the camshaft whenever replacing the cam, crank, or timing set. This is due to the manufacturing tolerances involved in the machining of each piece that can ultimately affecting the camshaft timing.The crankshaft keyway, the crank gear slot, the camshaft gear dowel pin hole, or the camshaft dowel can be misplaced ever so slightly causing the camshaft to be out of phase. Chain slack also affects camshaft timing; the more the slack, the more the retard. The worse case scenario is when all the above stack up either positive or negative and add up on top of each other. In the last twenty five years, I've seen one engine off 17? and another off 16? when just lining the marks straight up. Then there's the camshaft. You typically only check camshaft phasing against the #1 cylinder. But.....try checking each cylinder and see just how good your cam grinder is. It's made me a lot pickier over the years on who to purchase cams from. ------------------
Ted E.
Fe's are plenty fast, but "Y"'s are fun when they run in the nines.
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