cam install help please!!!

[rugster]

I am installing my VT Stage 1 cams and have everything bolted up but when i go to spin the crank with a wrench a piston is hitting a valve somewhere. All my timing marks line up perfectly, no tooth jumping in the chains, no problems during install. anyone have any ideas?

 

[Turbo92PGT]

you sure its hitting? Or could you be on a compression stroke? Its hard to spin the motor over with a wrench.

 

[rugster]

my dad said it spun when he turned it over before the new cams when in but I will be sure to ask him. Thanks

 

[Turbo92PGT]

Pull the plugs out of it when you spin it. It will make it a little easier.

 

[rugster]

they were all out

 

[COramprat]

Compression will make it hard to turn. I let mine fall then turned again. Removing the plugs will make it easier. You can also pull the fuse to the fuel pump and crank it over to listen for any problems.

Any doubts...pull it apart and start over.

 

[TGJ]

I am installing my VT Stage 1 cams and have everything bolted up but when i go to spin the crank with a wrench a piston is hitting a valve somewhere. All my timing marks line up perfectly, no tooth jumping in the chains, no problems during install. anyone have any ideas?

Well considering there is a lot of play in the stock cam gears, you could very well have PTV and have installed the cams the short-cut way without issue. It is problems like yours were had you taken the time to degree the cams in, you would know exactly where they are timed at, you would know if there was any PTV, and if you can not turn it over, it is likely the compression stroke.

I hope for you sake it is the compression stroke and not PTV. If it is PTV, you will have to take it all apart again to fix the issue. If that is the case you would have been better off degreeing the cams from the start. Do not crank the car over to confirm if it has PTV or not until you are absolutely positive it is not PTV.

Edit: What I mean by play in the stock cam gears is that the stock cam timing can vary greatly. Ford did not use a very tight tolerance on the stock cam gears.

 

[rugster]

Well its torn apart as it sits so I would have no problem degreeing the cams...anyone have a write-up on where I can find out how to do this? As it sits the front timing cover is off, the valve covers are off and shes pretty bare so it shouldn't be too difficult I'm hoping. Anyone know of some instructions on degreeing the cams?

 

[gnat]

Well its torn apart as it sits so I would have no problem degreeing the cams...anyone have a write-up on where I can find out how to do this? As it sits the front timing cover is off, the valve covers are off and shes pretty bare so it shouldn't be too difficult I'm hoping. Anyone know of some instructions on degreeing the cams?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=degreeing+cams+mustang

 

[TGJ]

M-o-d-u-l-a-r-D-e-p-o-t,

Has a couple of good threads in the 2V section regarding degreeing cams.

 

[SilverBullet00]

Are you sure its not in gear? I did this once or twice....

 

[rugster]

no not in gear, i took the chains off and am going to try to retime the engine but it seems like when i do it, there it always a valve thats open and i get PTV I can spin the motor like 3/4 the way around then it hits...

 

[COramprat]

For some reason people seem to have more trouble with the 99+ cam swaps. Maybe it is because Ford quality control slipped after a while.

I'm guessing you have the how-to on setting the timing? The only thing I can think of is it isn't setting at TDC and it's throwing it off.

 

[rugster]

Well im pretty sure I got a bad grind...I tired putting them in 4 times and no dice. So I put in my old cams and they went right in, easy as pie...how often do people get a bad grind?

 

[rugster]

anyone know if its possible to get a bad grind or something? ill have to measure em...

 

[COramprat]

Wow...that is strange. I know there was some problems with Comp grinds in F-Bodies a while back but I haven't heard anything wrong with the VT Stage 1's. Possible they mistook 3's? Are they marked?

 

[steveb24]

it took me multiple trys to get them in right as well.. what i did was turn the motor untill the keyway on the cam lined up with the cam gear keyway, at the same time making sure the motor was at tdc, and than put them in at that position. it woked for me on both sides, just dont let the chain slip.

 

[TGJ]

Wow...that is strange. I know there was some problems with Comp grinds in F-Bodies a while back but I haven't heard anything wrong with the VT Stage 1's. Possible they mistook 3's? Are they marked?

This is not the first case I have heard of with VT Stg 1 cams...