[Stan Weiss]

Originally Posted by Cliff R

+2

I figured that out quite a few pages ago, but still kept trying to help.

Degreeing a camshaft is simple, no need to make it complicated. Most novice/inexperienced engine "builders" get into trouble with mulitple keyway timing sets because they are either not very accurate or the directions are flawed, or a little of both. The 3 keyway variety with the cast iron sprockets are junk right to start with. I wouldn't let one within 20' of any engine I was building.......you can watch one stretch out if you stare at it long enough!

Seriously, when using stock cams, Melling in particular they are very accurate and if you are using a stock type Melling or Cloyes timing set and set it dot to dot it's unlikely you'll need to move it around at all. For builds like this one there is absolutely no need to do much more than put a 3/4" wide stock timing set on it, dot to dot, and move on. At most I'd turn the engine thru and watch the #1 intake lifter to make sure it starts moving a few degrees BTDC. That's close enough and good enough for this type of build.

I'd be 100,000 times more worried about having 7 pistons facing the WRONG direction and wondering even more about connecting rod orientation as well. Assuming all the pistons were pressed on the rods correctly you can't end up with one facing the right direction and seven the wrong way without a connecting rod or two in backwards. This potential issue would be at the TOP of my list of things to correct while the engine was out instead of knurling valve guides and Googling cam installation to the brink of extinction when all I needed to do at most was install a stock timing set, maybe a 2 degree offset key on the cam sprocket, and keep moving. I say this because every single "RAIV" cam I've installed with a stock timing set dot to dot has been within 1 degree of 112 ICL and the intake open point .050" a few degrees BTDC.

Not trying to be overly critical here, but with this type of build, (basicaly a backyard "special" with the emphasis on just getting it done on a shoestring budget), I'd want it as good as I could get it without spending money or time in areas that don't need it. Plus we've got enough compression here, too much quench, and hot climate that advancing the cam could bring more negatives into the equation that just leaving it in the stock position........FWIW........

Cliff,
How can both of these statements be correct? I would go with the second.

From Cam Dr data (Supplied by Ken Crocie / H-O Enterprises) of the Crane version of the 041

CAM_______Lift______Opens___Closes__Duration
_________________Deg_BTDC__Deg_ABDC_____________Ar ea____ICL
_________0.00100____45.82_|_119.83_|_345.65_|__26. 08_|_127.01
_________0.00350____35.55_|__98.83_|_314.38_|__26. 05_|_121.64
_________0.00400____34.21_|__96.55_|_310.76_|__26. 04_|_121.17
_________0.00600____30.14_|__87.77_|_297.90_|__26. 00_|_118.82

_________0.05000_____3.82_|__47.81_|_231.64_|__25. 27_|_112.00

Stan