z block alternative?
 

hey there. I know the correct tool for cam timing is the z block. I haven't received mine yet. I was planning on doing it this weekend. has anyone used anythingelse, or made there own?

A typical magnetic base in a gravity mode or on a fabricated steel plate secured by one of the valve cover studs.

....or a clamp-type indicator mount (on the same valve cover stud).

Sherwood

I made a couple that worked well for me. Couple bucks in scrap steel and a couple bucks in fasteners. Made two and along with a couple digital gauges made cam timing pretty easy.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1372536686.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1372536853.jpg

I have been meaning to buy one of those new-fangled z-block thingys for about thirty years but I still haven't quite got there!
I still get by with just clamping my mag base to the nearest inlet stud on the camshaft housing with a spring clamp like this. Just make sure it's sitting flat on the surface and clamped reasonably firm. There is very little actual load on the indicator but you obviously don't want it rocking around.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1372558426.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1372558469.jpg

I do something similar to Bill but instead use a 1/4" piece of steel bolted across a couple of intake studs (that gives something solid for the mag base).