Anybody make there own dial gauge holder for camshaft timing

[herman maire]

Would like to know if the zbloc is really needed for camshaft timing or if anybody "easily" made there own dial gauge bracket using stuff around the shop?

Thanks

[Jesse16]

Of course you don't need to. I borrowed a fancy indicator from a friend on its mag base and strung a piece of steel I had laying around from a convenient stud. Worked fine.
Eyeballed that I was straight and thats all it takes. Lots of others will post their equipment.

[herman maire]

Thats perfect !! I have the large magnet on my gauge also. So you just bolted the steel to one of
the valve cover studs?

Thanks for the reply.

[Jesse16]

Yea, you can't see the bolt. And a thicker piece of steel might have been nice but it worked !

[David]

If you have some 3/4" aluminum laying around your garage:

[Alan L]

+1 on the steel plate - that is how I do mine all the time. If you have the valve cover off you can make one just the right size that it tucks in the cam case - in case you ever want to do it while engine still in.
Alan

[Tippy]

I made a 1/4" strap steel about 1.5-2"'s wide and about 4"s long with a hole in it.

[rollingjack]

but if you have no aluminium, no steel, but want to do timing

[Jesse16]

Excellent application, that I like.

[burgermeister]

Originally Posted by rollingjack

but if you have no aluminium, no steel, but want to do timing

That looks surprisingly familiar ...

[herman maire]

Thank you for all the replys.

Very impressed with how resourceful everyone is to "get the job done" vs going out and buying every little tool.

This diagram is a huge help, I will for use this to fabricate one. Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by David

If you have some 3/4" aluminum laying around your garage:

That wood looks plenty solid, I think I may just get a piece of hard wood flooring I have and try to make up the Zbloc

Originally Posted by rollingjack

but if you have no aluminium, no steel, but want to do timing

thanks again

[88911coupe]

This is going to come in handy with engine drop #2. I used one of those flexible neck things that can lock and it really wasn't all that effective, I had to be VERY careful not to bump it.