Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Adkins
How many miles are on the engine, the cam gears are usually worn as well. If your gonna keep it for a while then fix it that way. It is acceptable to use the factory marks to set cam timing, but to do it correctly you will need a degree wheel for the crank, a depth gauge to set TDC as well as a dial indicator with all needed hardware to measure lift at each camshaft, I ran a dyno for 11 years and on occasion did that procedure shopping for horsepower. To be honest the gain isn't worth all the effort. As for the chain with valve covers removed grasp the chain at the center of the gear on top between thumb and finger and lift, if the chain only raises slightly it is still in order. If it lifts a large amount the chain/ gear set no longer fits correctly. The gear teeth will also seem sharp at the upper edges from wear. Setting the timing of camshafts correctly and rolling a chain is the simplest but most dangerous procedure as the failure rate is high for mistake. If the gear is set a tooth late it will have low manifold vacum and be lazy, if it's early it might not bend a valve....... maybe.
Bill
|
I took possession of the vehicle last monday (after sitting for 2 years), got it running last friday, and got it titled Tuesday.
I did try lifting the chain off the sprocket yesterday and it barely budged, and the cam gears look pretty good - nice and round (and symetrical) at the top like they should be.
The ODO reads 137K, but it's also busted, so true mileage is unknown. This is a project car, not a daily driver, so right now I'm concentrating on making sure it doesn't self-destruct on it's way to get the state inspection. Once that's done, I'll put a few thousand miles on it, then see where I'm at. Having only driven it maybe a mile or so around the neighborhood, I don't know if it's got trans, diff, suspension, etc... issues that need to be dealt with first.
I've got all the gear you mentioned, plus some (I left the automotive field a few years ago for more lucrative pursuits but never sold my tools). If the car checks out on the whole, then I'll do a little exterior work and then start fine tuning the engine.
__________________
A.S.E Tech A1,A6,A7,A8 & MVAC 609 + EPA 608
Unless stated otherwise, any question I ask is about my greymarket 1985 380SEL.
