My last cam timing question - answered
 

(follow up to "My last cam timing question.")

Okay guys, I figured it out. As everyone suggested without saying it - I was suffering a brief case of "the dumb ass."

When everyone questioned my findings I went back to check through the suggested procedure for checking cam timing and found that I forgot to reset the #1 and #4 intake valves after going through the piston-to-valve clearance check on all my cylinders.

DOH!

With the valves properly set, my cam timing readings with the tensioners installed were exactly the same as previously set without them when I used the padded vice grips to tension the chains.

Thanks for waking me up.

:eek:

Jack

Just to followup - minor changes will be present, but you should not use the chain tensioners themselves to hold tension on the chain. As someone previously mentioned, it does not place enough tension to accurately simulate the running engine...

-Wayne

Wayne,

What exactly does 'minor changes' mean? I set my timing yesterday using the vice grip/wood block method (for the right side). After installing the tensioners (old style mechanical), the timing doesn't seem to be minor at all. I'll have to go back and re-check the measurements on both sides today to get accurate estimates, but I want to understand what 'minor' means before calling it a success.

For what it's worth, I timed each side about 5 times to make sure I was doing it right and gtting consistent readings.

Thanks,

Dion