Okay guys...I did the searches and I'm trying to understand this. Maybe cause I haven't done it yet, but on thursday I'm putting in my cam and was trying to figure this out. How do you degree the cam when you have the crank key way....holes and dowel in camshaft sprocket, and line up with and dot to dot match up? I know I'm stupid but where is there a way to adjust this????

thanks...and I apologize for being an ID.

 

If the cam is ground incorrectly, you either have to use one of the advanced/retarded keyways in your AFTERMARKET timing chain, or buy a new sproket made for your specific degreeing needs

 

I have the Lt4 Extreme Duty timing chain. There is no advance / retard keyway that I know of. As for the aftermarket sprocket......where would you get one??? Is it that far off that you recommend it???

 

Im pretty sure that the LT4 chains doesnt have provisions for moving the cam around. The cloyes chain does i know for a fact.

The cam shouldnt be off at all, but mistakes happen. If its ground incorrectly, i think i would send it back rather than buy a new keyway. Its the cam companies fault not yours. Jegs/summit should sell the keyways.

 

But I was just curious....not even the repair books mention it. How many people here actually degree their cams??? I think I'll make a thread.

 

Turned out to be more of a pain then it was worth. I wanted to confirm that the cam was ground correctly, AND installed right, but dot to dot is actually quite clear, you SHOULD know if your off a dot. So i have a degree wheel now that i had no way of attaching to the crank securely and never used because the dot to dt method worked fine.

brent

 

I guess that answers that then.

thanks guys.

 

There is a whole, long method for degreeing a cam. http://www.compcams.com/Technical/Ca...L/413-414.html
You will also need to buy the degree wheel and other items if you don't already have them. As long as the cam is ground correctly, you won't have any problems. Lining up the dots is not considered "degreeing". If you have to make degree changes, you will have to make timing corrections too, because it will throw off the position of the optispark.

 

If it's an off the shelf cam I would think it should be ground properly. Doesn't Comp check theirs before selling? Anyway just install it straight up, make sure the timing chain is dot-to-dot and you will be fine. I did hear of someone getting a bad cam but only once in 2 years here.

 

From what 94formulabz said.......it aint worth the hastle so I'm just gonna line um up and cross the fingers.

 

"degreeing" a cam IMO is only when you are attempting to squeeze every last drop of power out of your combination. I have done it but only twice and only because I was unsure of the cam and my compression ratio (it was a 1969 302). It is a royal PIA because you have to really do it when the motor is out of the bay so you can have the heads off, plenty of room in the front of the motor, and you need the micrometer, you need to take journal measurements, you need to measure the lobe, you need absolute TDC, just throw it in man!!!

 

When I installed the GM847 cam I checked the valve timing. Intake centerline for that cam should be 107 degrees BTDC and I ended up with about 101. After adjustments I ended up with 105 degrees which was close enough for me. Lining up the dots is good enough for most people so you should be okay

 

Grease...this is what I'm trying to figure out. How do you even make the adjustment. There is no room anywhere to make adjustments.

 

Depends on how far off the timing is.

I have done it but only twice and only because I was unsure of the cam and my compression ratio (it was a 1969 302).

The cam is usually NOT the problem. The problem is the crank to cam link.

It is a royal PIA because you have to really do it when the motor is out of the bay....

If there is enuf room to install the cam, there is plenty of room to degree the combo.

...so you can have the heads off...

What for? Certainly not to find TDC.

...and you need the micrometer...

What for? Or do you mean a dial indicator?

...you need to take journal measurements...

No you don't.

...you need to measure the lobe...

no you don't.

....you need absolute TDC...

You can do an adequate job of finding TDC with the heads on.

...just throw it in man!!!

If you are unsure, as to the correct procedure for degreeing, that is the better way.