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Degreeing a Camshaft

Tahoe540

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Let me start by saying I have degreed a few camshafts but don't do it everyday.
I have a new hydraulic roller cam I have been trying to match the cam card specs.
Long story short it had to be installed 6 degrees advanced to match the card and particularly the 109 degree intake centerline.
I have never had one off this mutch.
Should I run it or call the cam company?
 

mash on it

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So, to get your 109 degrees, the timing set is(shows) 6 degrees advanced?

In my opinion, if you have the cam at 109°, in relation to the crankshaft, it is set up properly. (At least per the cam card)

There is multiple variables.
Crank keyway cut a few degrees off.
Crank timing gear cut a few degrees off.
Timing gear drilled a few degrees off.
Cam face drilled a few degrees off.
And that's just the timing set.

If just one degree off, on each one of the above, it could be up to four degrees out/off.

Other variables-
#1 and 2 crank journal off.
Cam/lifter bore casting shift.
Referencing #1 TDC off.

I've had cams (or crank/cam/timing set) up to 8 degrees off. I just double checked it, had another pair of eyes check my measurements, and if it all checked out, just ran it.

Hope that helps.

Dan'l
 

lenmann

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If you are not sure of it, call the cam company. You bought the cam, you also paid for support as part of the price of the product.

I say that being the absolute last person on the planet that calls anybody for support. It's some sort of self reliant, independent, renaissance man, bullshit thing that I am aware of but I seem powerless to overcome. When I finally do call after days of trying to figure it out; they solve my problem in literally minutes.
 

Tahoe540

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Thanks for the responses

I went through the process of finding TDC each time I degreed the cam. Going through the whole process probably 5-6 times thinking I was doing something wrong. It came up with the same wrong numbers every time. I even bought a new dial indicator to make sure my numbers were right.

I finally moved the crank gear to 6 degrees advanced and that put the numbers where they needed to be.

I guess it was just hard to accept that a brand new custom ground cam from Bullett would be this much off.
 

obnoxious001

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Let me start by saying I have degreed a few camshafts but don't do it everyday.
I have a new hydraulic roller cam I have been trying to match the cam card specs.
Long story short it had to be installed 6 degrees advanced to match the card and particularly the 109 degree intake centerline.
I have never had one off this mutch.
Should I run it or call the cam company?
If you are concerned about it, you can check the various open and closing events, and verify another cylinder besides #1. How do you have the dial indicator set on the lobe?

As mentioned above, lots of things can play into it being off 6 degrees, I have seen worse.
 

Tahoe540

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I am checking the lobe with a magnetic stand with a lifter and pushrod.

I have verified that after advancing the cam 6 degrees all of the timing events are correct. I am happy now as all the timing events are spot on.

I also verified with on the exhaust side to make sure I was correct.

I feel confident it is degreed correctly now I am just surprised it was off by this much. I have not had this experience before and thought I had lost my mind. Now I know I am just old and easily confused LOL
 

obnoxious001

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I have a fixture that simulates a roller lifter with a dial indicator, but I normally always go back and check myself,, and how many of the things have I done over the years?

Hydraulic roller may tend to mess you up some, doesn't usually take much pressure to deflect the cup.
 
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