Hey guys. Quick question. Im doing a cam swap . I line the crank sprocket dot at 12 oclock and the cam at 6 oclock. Only they wont line up perfect with the chain on. They are just ever so slightly off. I put the timing cover on and start to install the balancer but the mark on the balancer shows 7 or 8*. Is this correct or is my chain out by a tooth??? I cant remember how the other swaps went but I do remember Comp Cams telling me that their cams are ground to 4* advance. Any ideas if I can keep going or if the cover needs to come off and the chain moved a tooth??? Thanks

 

The mark on the balancer doesn't mean the ignition timing is correct. The cam timing marks on the gears should run through the centerline of the crank and cam. That's why you degree a cam to make sure the cam timing is correct.

Once that's done, #1 cylinder needs to be indexed to TDC. using a timing wheel and some way to stop the piston near the top of the cylinder, locate where on the timing wheel, TDC is on #1. Once the piston is then rotated to TDC, adjust the timing pointer for the balancer to TDC (zero degrees).