Is there any way to check the cam timing without pulling the timing cover? My friend did a cam swap (224/230) and the car is lacking power and only pulling about 8-10 vacuum. I am thinking the cam may not be lined up properly.

 

Check the valve adj before you go rippin & tearing.Intake valves to tight will cause a hell of a vacuum leak.

 

I did help him adjust them to 3/4 past zero lash.

 

You should go no more than 1/2 a turn.

 

Go to 1/4 with the feel on the push rod method.When you get them loose,tighten them down a little at a time while rotating the pushrod.You will feel a slight drag when turning--this is zero-- go 1/4 past and lock it down.Now you have to get ALL valves on the cam heel.Pull all plugs,follow ithe firing order,put your finger in each cyl in the firing order and turn it over with a ratchet on the balancer bolt and when it goes WOOOSH--it will start small with the wooosh and get more sound as the piston comes closer to the top, adjust that cyl's valves.
Follow the firing order 18436572 starting from TDC#1.

 

why? They are stock replacement lifters. The shop manual says 3/4 turn.

 

Yea IF they are actually AT 3/4 turn.1/4 turn gives you some margin for error without bottoming and holding the valve open.That is what we are talking about--low vacuum--.The lifters could have varnish inside and not liking the deep adj.for the plunger.
Causing them to hold the valve open and like you said it could be the chain installation being off.I would see if the valves are correct before I spent the labor to check the chain and find out it was the adj.all along. It doesn't take but one intake valve staying off the seat to cause low vacuum.

 

I'll try redoing them and see what happens

 

OK