Cam/Valve Timing Help

[phocussed]

Building my first 911sc motor and thought I've built several 356 engines, this is my first adventure setting the camshaft/valve timing.

I have a standard cam for a 1980 911sc. After setting the valve lash to the proper setting I carefully set TDC on the crank, and set the cams to their correct upright position. I should mention that I'm using mechanical tensioners to keep the chains tight.

I placed the cam pin in the hole that was open and snugged up the cam nut.

I then set up my Z stand with my indicator dial set to zero. Rotated the crank until the needle indicated 1.00 and look at the Z1 mark and it was dead on TDC.

I torqued the cam nut carefully and ran through it again and again.... and it came up exactly where it should be 1.00.

Anyway, Wayne's book says "the needle will reach 1.0 before the Z1 mark, when it does stop.. loosen the cam nut, then rotate the crank to TDC and tighten".

Am I just incredibly lucky that I was able to hit the timing the first time or am I doing something wrong.

Thanks for helping out a newbie!

[ZOA NOM]

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.

Seriously, it's very likely you hit the mark, but to be sure, leave everything tightened, and rotate the motor several times and re-verify the setting. Repeatability is key.

[Daviboy]

Agree you have been lucky enough to hit the mark first time around, just remember that to set the right hand bank the cam dots must be facing downward although setting procedure is the same... repeatability is the key here I think I turned my crank like 20 times to check all was good.

[LUFTMAN]

Beginners luck is better than bad luck. Turn the engine over several times and you will see the cam timming change 2 or 3 degrees up and down as the sprockets wear will show the differences good luck on the rebuild.

[phocussed]

Thank you all for the sage advice.