Cam Timing Question

[Doug E]

Just looking for some feedback on the current cam timing we have set:

Left bank (1-2-3): ranges from .041 to .043 with a consistent reading of .042

Right bank: ranges from .040 to .042 with a consistent reading of .041

Is this OK or do we need to re-do the right bank (which was done second) to more closely match the right bank?????

I know it's late but I just want to make sure that .001 of an inch isn't going to destroy my motor.

BTW, I never would have believed how sensitive this whole timing process until now having just gone through it.

Thanks for the help.

[Doug E]

At 2 am I wasn't thinking to clearly last night so here is some additional information:

1) final stages of rebuild
2) car is a stock 81 SC
3) had Wayne's book right there by our side
4) we were shooting to keep it in the stock specs (.9mm to 1.1mm) per Wayne's book which if I did my math right equates to a range of .037 to .043 inches
5) torque is set to final rate of 110 ft/lbs on each side

I know that optimally we would have liked .040 on each side but after 4 hours of trying we just couldn't seem to get either side closer to that number.

Am I just being paranoid or is the .001 variance OK to proceed with?

Thanks.

[Rot 911]

Any time you can get .001 variance on the cams and you are within spec, be happy! It is tough to get the timing chains tight enough to get zero variance when you do the 720degree rotation of the engine. And by this time you have rotated the engine enough times that you would know if you are going to have valve to piston interferance. Now if you are running high lift cams any variance can be something to worry about, but not here.

[89turbocabmike]

I think you should be just fine. I just timed the later SC's in my car and .001 should be good as long as you had decent tension on the chains and good valve adj. No worries, time to button it up!

[dtw]

I think you're going to be in fine shape. The lazier fuel-injected cams are pretty forgiving, and you're not at all far from spec.

Yesterday my wrench was telling me about a time he finished putting a 2.7 together- he no sooner got done bolting it into the car when he realized he hadn't timed the cams! He had only pointed the Woodruff keys up for rough timing. He said "what the hell" and fired it up and checked all the specs...it ran perfectly.

I wouldn't advise doing the above with high-lift/long duration cams

[Doug E]

Thanks guys - she's all sealed up now! I'm going to be posting some pics later on but needless to say it's been an exciting 36 hours!