Weird cam timing measurements on '76 2.7S
 

Checking a rebuilt longblock tonight, and got an unexpected timing measurement on the cams. They both measured out at 1.35mm lift at TDC overlap. My workshop manual says these should be anywhere from 0.40 to 0.54mm. The cam stampings (143 left and 144 right) are confirmed, these should be the correct cams. Measurements taken with PFTs installed; with idlers pinned/chains tightened, measurement drops about 0.1mm.

Is this some kind of secret cam advance trick the builder used to magically create HP, or should I go ahead and re-time these?

Hey Dave, wonder if the builder had the original cams redone...seems pretty odd
btw..got the tranny parts..thanks!

That setting would be correct for an SC cam. Maybe they were reground like Richard pointed out.

-Andy

Measure the full valve lift. 2.7 S cis cams should be .401" and .346" with lash. If the cams were ground to SC specs, you will see close to .450" intake and .390" exhaust.

John,
Actually I already measured the full lift, I should have posted that too. 8.47mm which equals the .346" you mentioned. Looks decisively like I have stock 2.7 CIS cams and wrong timing spec. No worries, I can retime them no problem. Any recommendations on where in the range spec to set them? 0.40 to 0.54 is quite a bit of room to work.

.40- .54 is less than 1/2 of a degree spread. I would shoot for .54

btw, 1.35 is around 2.5 degrees advanced.

8.47mm was on the exhaust side right?

OK John, are you ready to laugh at the rookie? It turns out when you don't set your dial gauge with enough preload, and use a conversion rate of 24.5 instead of 25.4, you can magically come out to .346" - the right measurement for the wrong side. Duh.

I adjusted the preload, and got .402" on the #1 intake valve. Still a 2.7 cam, still gotta re-time. Darn.

Have fun!