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Crank -> Cam Timing Chain Alignment Question.

  • Thread starter Thread starter 91BlckGT
  • Start date Start date Oct 26, 2016

91BlckGT

Founding Member
May 24, 1999
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68
in a van, down by the river
Oct 26, 2016
#1
  • Oct 26, 2016
  • #1
I'm about to pull my car back apart and verify everything, but I wanted to share this picture first and see if there is any possibility that I screwed up this basic part of the installation.

I installed the cam with the locator dowel facing 6:00, and as you can see in the picture, the crankshaft keyslot is at 12:00. The circles on the comp camps are also facing each other and directly in line (i measured with a straight-edge before I bolted it all together).



Since I had the Number 1 piston at TDC when this was done, is there any possible way I screwed this up in such a way that the car wont' start, no matter what orientation I have the distributor?
 

91BlckGT

Founding Member
May 24, 1999
2,386
75
68
in a van, down by the river
Oct 26, 2016
#2
  • Oct 26, 2016
  • #2
Here's a picture showing where the intake and exhaust valves were on cylinder one, and as you can see the #1 piston was at TDC, nearly same as the #6 piston.
 

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  • 548D2s-u_3VI63BNhFOjC3gC3dD1D-sOBgTaBJDLqBTXOZr3UJOh1sAYymRCWunpGJKWPLkCy4RQV-FUXc=w1689-h950...webp
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91BlckGT

Founding Member
May 24, 1999
2,386
75
68
in a van, down by the river
Oct 26, 2016
#3
  • Oct 26, 2016
  • #3
Here's a final view showing the location of the #1 piston, as I was first sliding on and test fitting the cam timing chain and crank sprocket. Nothing here looks visually out of place, just wanted to rule this out before I go crazy down debugging paths.

 

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?
5 Year Member
Jul 2, 2009
5,222
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South Jersey
Oct 27, 2016
#4
  • Oct 27, 2016
  • #4
Installation is correct for the timing set, your statement " is there any possible way I screwed this up in such a way that the car wont' start, no matter what orientation I have the distributor?" is another story. While the installation is correct you will also need to correctly install the distributor, it's not one of those drop it in wherever you feel like and it will work type parts. With the motor at TDC, you will want the rotor pointing to the back passenger side of the engine. The #1 terminal on the cap will align with the rotor and you will be close enough to start the car and set the timing.
 

91BlckGT

Founding Member
May 24, 1999
2,386
75
68
in a van, down by the river
Oct 27, 2016
#5
  • Oct 27, 2016
  • #5
84Ttop said:
Installation is correct for the timing set, your statement " is there any possible way I screwed this up in such a way that the car wont' start, no matter what orientation I have the distributor?" is another story. While the installation is correct you will also need to correctly install the distributor, it's not one of those drop it in wherever you feel like and it will work type parts. With the motor at TDC, you will want the rotor pointing to the back passenger side of the engine. The #1 terminal on the cap will align with the rotor and you will be close enough to start the car and set the timing.
Click to expand...

Awesome. I can't start the car, and have tried stabbing the distributor a multitude of ways and positions. Hopefully tonight i'll get some spare time to check out the compression.
 

91BlckGT

Founding Member
May 24, 1999
2,386
75
68
in a van, down by the river
Oct 27, 2016
#6
  • Oct 27, 2016
  • #6
ahahahahahahhahahahash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had managed to put the freaking distributor backwards not once, not twice, not three times, but FOUR FREAKING TIMES!

Before I did the compression test I figured "what the hell, might as well flip it around and see what happens"...

See the video here...
https://goo.gl/photos/D5YsAeRgpyqvbJgEA
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2016
27,844
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polk county florida
Oct 27, 2016
#7
  • Oct 27, 2016
  • #7
I can't even comment on that. Like, I haven't done that. Just not FOUR times, well not counting the three times the night before.
I can't spell embarrassing.
 
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