Fitting Cams

  1. L-plater Joined: Aug 2010 Perth, Scotland Posts: 69 Citroen Saxo VTR, Citroen AX, Mercedes 190, Honda
    #1
    My instructions say my inlet cam should be at maximum lift 110 degrees after tdc.
    What's the best way to do this. I know i need to use a dti gauge to determine tdc, but how do i know how far to rotate the crank? Do i use some kind of protractor for this? Do i rotate the crank backwards, or the cam forwards?

    I'm semi competent with cars, having done numerous engine transplants etc etc, but i've not had to time performance cams before.

    Any guides or links to videos would be excellent.

    Thanks
  2. Regular Poster Joined: Jan 2009 Chesterfield Posts: 263 BMW 330d, Arctic Steel Silver TU5JP4, 1.8 Focus
    #2
    Wondered this also.
  3. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi
    #3
    degree wheel, print one off and stick it to your crank pulley
  4. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi
    #4
    http://www.lucasinjection.com/Degree_wheel_100.jpg

    set cylinder 1 to tdc, then set up your dti against the cam follower. rotate the cam until its at max lift. then turn the crank 110 degrees. then put on the cam belt

    rotate both clockwise
  5. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2002 United Kingdom Posts: 8390
    #5
    make sure you get TDC as true TDC - theres typically a dwell zone of some degrees, where it looks like the engines at TDC. Find the centre of the dwell zone and thats your real TDC.
  6. L-plater Joined: Aug 2010 Perth, Scotland Posts: 69 Citroen Saxo VTR, Citroen AX, Mercedes 190, Honda
    #6
    Is it as straight forward as that?
    So when I've got my inlet cam 110deg atdc, won't that timing be completely thrown out by then trying to time my exhaust cam to 110deg btdc?
  7. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi
    #7
    you set the cams, then the crank, then put the cam belt on.