In-car cam timing
 

Hey guys, can cam timing be checked in-car with the hydraulic tensioners keeping the tension, or do the chains have be held tighter than that? I want to re-check my cam timing but it's a real b#tch to remove the timing covers with thr turbos in place.
Thanks

I dunno how you will get a degree wheel on the crank with the engine in the car.

Degree wheel? I use a dial indicator.

Yes, pretty easy to check the timing. Check the Engine Rebuild book or 101 Projects...

-Wayne

Thanks for the reply Wayne, I know it's easy but I was just curious if the chain tensioners will kep the chain tight enough to get an accurate reading.
Thanks!

Mike,
My tensioners didn't keep the chains tight enough.

Thanks Dean, that's exactly what I needed to know.

Yes and no. It's safe to put extra tension on when measuring the cam timing...

-Wayne

Wouldn't you want to know what the timing is under the tension created by the tensioners since that's how it will operate in the car?

In real life the cams are being dragged /pulled by the crank as it rotates .So you will have to imagine that there is a pretty good resistance there...The only way to compensate for static timing is to make sure the "slack" side is real tight...this hopefully imitates whats going on in real life.

I wouldn't worry about it - you just want to check to see if something is off, right? The tensioners have a pretty stout spring in them, and that is what does the pushing when you run the engine, not the oil.

I checked them and they are at 1.2 and 1.15 so I'm leaving them be. Now it's time to drive the snot out of it and get the rings seated.