I have decided to change out the cam I put in last year, my question is that I put the number one piston on TDC on the compression stroke, and pulled everything apart just like last year.
Then I find that the dots on the sprokets are nowhere near each other once I pulled the timing cover off. The lower gear on the crank has the dot pointing straight up like it's supposed to, yet the top gear the dot is like at 1:00, can someone explain what I have done here, the car ran fine for the last year with the cam just wondering what I could of done. Also what happens if you put the cam in on the exhaust stroke.
Thanks
...Rich

 

I dont think TDC on cyl #1 is dot to dot.... I know to get TDC on my car after aligning it dot to dot I still had to turn the crank some.

 

I think TDC#1 is 12 oclock and 12 oclock. It may be 6 oclock and 6 oclock though, I forgot. It's one of the two. I am pretty sure dot to dot is TDC#6

Jeff D.

 

Yep, dot to dot is TDC #6... now that you mention it I remember talking to someone about that when I did my cam a few weeks back.

 

OK so why do we put the large cam gear at 6 o'clock and the small crank sprocket at 12 o'clock )in other words dot to dot)when we put everythihng back together. acording to the haynes manual i'm looking at, they show the dots together upon removal and installation and they say TDC on the compression stroke is where the motor is set at.

 

Poorman , I just checked out your pictures and I can see the two dots lined up after you pulled the timing chain cover. just trying to figure out why mine are not...

 

TDC for the #1 cyl is 12 and 12. this i know for sure. we most likely put the dots together (6 and 12) to be able to properly adjust the timing. i think 6 and 12 is TDC for the #6 cyl. now as far as compression stroke and yada yada, i dont know hth

 

just go dot to dot and you will be fine. it doesn't matter what stroke you are on then b/c the timing will be correct.

 

What he said The dot to dot way is the easiest way to get the timing correct because the line between the two is shorter. You are just trying to get the crank and cam in "time" with each other. It would be harder to line up the dots both at 12 o'clock but you can do it that way too. The whole thing about TDC at whatever cylinder really only matters when you are installing your rocker arms. This is because we use a non-adjustable timing set.

You can see from the 2 pics I have with the heads off that #6 and #1 are both pretty much at the top. Not sure about this but I think dot to dot = #6 TDC compression stroke and #1 TDC exhaust stroke. When most people say TDC in general they usually refer to compression stroke but some use it for both and I think this causes some confusion.

Jeff D.

 

It's just visually easier to line up at 12/6. 12/6 or 12/12, either is correct.

 

i thought you put it dot to dot with cam and then turn it till both dots are at 12 o clock for the opti install.
am i missing something?

 

Rico, the pic in the book is confusing or even wrong (I dont have mine in front of me) but 12/12 is TDC #1 compression stroke. Mine is apart right now and when I put it back together it will be 12/12 to the besti of my eyeball ability but I will spin the assembly 1 turn (when adjusting the rockers) and verify the 6/12 is lined up also. Hope that helps.