If you bolt one of these cams into a one-piece roller cam block already set up for factory hydraulic roller lifters, you have a cool setup. We’ve reviewed the differences, but what’s involved with converting a flat tappet over to a hydraulic or mechanical roller cam? The only difficulty with the budget degree wheel is that it's designed to be used with the professional crankshaft turn socket, which is a great tool that only costs $11 more than the crank nut. You can copy and paste this link to share: https://www.chevydiy.com/how-to-install-and-degree-a-cam-in-small-block-chevys/. This is the position of the Number One intake at 0.050-inch lifter rise. Remove the piston stop. Here’s a simple trick for checking degree wheel accuracy. Once you’ve installed the remaining lifters, pushrods, and rockers, you can set the lash or preload (see “Setting Lash” sidebar). Center Holes, Each. Most cam cards indicate this position for the intake at BTDC. But from our experience, if the valvetrain is designed, built, and installed properly, a mechanical lifter cam holds its lash for a long time, allowing you the luxury of using lash to finetune the engine without having to spend any more money. Let’s say we open the exhaust lash by 0.004 inches and the power increases. The basic tools required are a degree wheel, a stable pointer that can be mounted to the engine, a dial indicator with at least one inch of travel in .001" increments, a stand that mounts it to the engine, and a positive stop device to locate TDC. A company called Ferry’s Aluminum Repair in Dallas, Texas (972/557-3565) makes this unique tool that measures the actual position of the rocker arm tip on the valve face. A better idea is to merely preload the lifters between one-quarter and one-half turn. Invest in a set of poly locks and you’ll be happier for it. If the bottom of the cup is flat, drill or hammer a small indentation to locate the dial indicator and you’re ready to go. Now that we have a handle on the tools needed for the job, let’s get to it. Ultimately, this saves time and limits your frustration. While this is a fairly broad statement, advancing a cam opens and closes all the valves earlier in the four stroke cycle. In this case, your cam reads 34 degrees BTDC. Proper hydraulic lifter preload is important and should be between 0.020 and 0.060 inches. Remember to place your lifter in the second lifter bore from the front, since this is the intake lobe for Number One cylinder on a small-block Chevy. at the pointer. This is easy to see because the lifter’s rate of change on the dial indicator slows down. 1-13 of 13 Results. $59.57 $ 59. Find out how to properly degree a camshaft on your engine by using a Moroso Pro-Wheel and a few simple tools - Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine Now we have to move either the degree wheel or the pointer so that it should read halfway in between, or 22 degrees. If you have one of those on-the-head, over-center valvespring compressor tools that compresses the valvespring and holds the spring down when you over-center the lever arm, this can be used as an ad-hoc piston stop. Our cam card said we should read 66 ABDC, but our degree wheel reads just before 67 degrees, roughly one degree later. Otherwise, the spring compresses and the valve might drop if separated from the retainer. Big Block Chevy Crank Socket for Degree Wheel $64.99 More Like This. Only 1 left in stock - order soon. So, once you’ve established which exhaust lash spec makes the best overall power, now you can go back and go through the intake lash again to be sure the best lash spec still works with the best exhaust lash. This moves the hydraulic piston as much as 0.060 inches down in the lifter body. The 360 degree marks are cut after anodizing to produce highly contrasting lines. COMP Cams Universal Camshaft Degree Wheel $ … Don't use the crank hub retaining bolt to rotate your engine! A knurled jam nut is used to position a degree wheel, No. State Restrictions: Shipping restriction to HI/AK/PR ? Degree Wheel. NO The only cam button to use on any rollercammed small-block is one of these roller timing buttons, like this one from COMP Cams. On the front of this tool is a large threaded nose with a locking collar. Those stock locking nuts that the factory uses are horrible and merely tear up the threads even on good studs. Keep in mind that we can’t emphasize enough that these changes need to be made one at a time. After that you should soak the lifters to permeate the rollers. Filed Under: Chevy Small- Block, Chevy Tech Tips, Uncategorized, HIGH PERFORMANCE CHEVY SMALL BLOCK CAMS & VALVETRAINS, Chevelle Performance Projects – Step by Step, Big-Inch Chevy Small-Block Stroker Cheat Sheet, 348-409 Cheat Sheet – Crankshafts, Rods and Pistons, Build Big-Inch Chevy Small-Block Engines: Lubrication Systems Guide, Big-Inch Chevy Small-Block Build: Getting Started, Serious Engine Modifications to Improve C5 Corvette Performance (Part 8), C3 Corvette Restoration Disassembly and Storage, Comparing Cylinder Blocks and Fasteners for Chevy Small Block Engines, Guide to Chevy Small-Block Production Heads, How to Swap an LS Engine into Your Chevelle – Step by Step. Learn how to use degree wheel kit to time camshaft.. ORDER THE DVD ON MY EBAY STORE If you liked this article you will LOVE the full book. This could cause a binding situation guaranteed to cause some destruction and lots of metal filings in the oil. The best kit I Have used to date! Works, but had to drill the hole and imagine I'll have to make inserts for future hole sizes. In this case, we have a tip for you that can do the job so you don’t have to yank the head to degree the cam. Report abuse. Generally, most crank keyways allow a minimum of a 2-degree advance or retard. Generally, most crank keyways allow a minimum of a 2-degree advance or retard. If not, the degree wheel will have to be relocated. Socket worked well with Moroso 62190 11 inch degree wheel on my 350 SBC. Degree wheel download Another option is to make a timing tape as described below. No shortcuts exist when it comes to establishing TDC. Degree rings are available with four magnets at 90 degrees for crank trigger ignition. Worse yet, one change may cancel out the other and then you miss an opportunity entirely. You can build your own and can save some money, especially if you already have a dial indicator and a magnetic base. Some of the degree wheel kits use custom mounts for the dial indicator, but the magnetic bases are inexpensive now and they’re the easiest to use. C $45.42. Usually, the dial indicator is placed incorrectly and runs out of travel. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Speedway Motors Small Block Chevy SBC 350 Crank Socket for Degree Wheel at the best online prices at … Use Code: DIYSAVE10 Online Ship-to-Home Orders Only. Setting lifters is easy with the Exhaust Opening/Intake Closing procedure; just remember EO/IC. Part Number: CRN-99162-1 These crank nuts are inexpensive, but you quickly learn that the nut requires an expensive adjustable wrench in order to turn the engine over. 62191(18"), or No. The Number One intake lobe on all small-block Chevys is the second lifter from the front. If the lifter won’t move up and down with your fingers, there’s something wrong. All you need to complete the kit is pushrods, assuming you already have the eight factory tie-bars and “spider.”. The hands-on part of working on a car is always fun. Using a simple cam handle makes installing a cam much easier, especially when the cam is all lubed up and installed mostly into the engine. A couple of ways to use it is to have it laminated or glue it to a piece of sheet metal or aluminum. Timing Pointer Degree Wheel Kit - SBC Degree Wheel - 7 in Diameter - Timing Pointer - Aluminum - Black Anodize - Small Block Chevy - Each. This handy tool allows you to set the lash or preload quickly when using poly locks. As we mentioned in Chapter 2, Chevy converted from flat tappet hydraulic cams to hydraulic rollers beginning in 1987. Part Number: POW-POW103075. It’s not unusual to find that a new cam does not fit in a block with new cam bearings, and with the rotating assembly in the way it’s tough to work around those parts. For a smaller degree wheel, use a CD to stick the printed template to. Good clean solvent followed by a bath in heavy engine assembly oil is the best plan. Lash changes to an engine on the dyno point out whether the cam needs more or less valve timing on either the intake or the exhaust sides of the cam. Never combine guided rocker arms with pushrod guideplates. Always make sure to rotate the lifter through several cycles to double check that the lifter and dial indicator returns to zero on the cam’s base circle. This degree wheel indicates degrees in 0- to-90 segments rather than 0-to-180 or 0-to360 degree increments. This chapter consists of three parts – the first looks at installing a new performance camshaft, the second details accurately degreeing the camshaft in the engine, and the third part goes over some cylinder head and valvetrain assembly ideas. Mount the degree wheel and bring the engine up to TDC for Number One piston and roughly set the TDC. Details; Don't use the crank hub retaining bolt to rotate your engine! Also make sure there is sufficient dial indicator travel to read at least 0.350 inches of lobe lift. In fact, they could make more power with a shorter duration exhaust lobe. You also need some kind of pointer for the degree wheel. Altering the timing of a camshaft in a small block Chevy is a simple task. If you’ve lost your instructions, you can always go online since most cam companies post instructions on their website. Or you can make your own out of a piece of scrap steel or aluminum with a center-mounted bolt and nut as a stop. In this case, the degree wheel reads 20 degrees ATDC. Just be sure to rig up an adapter that contacts either just the valve or both the valve and retainer. BRAND. For a 7/16-inch stud at 20 tpi, a 1/2–turn is worth 0.025 inches. Mr Gasket 1570 Universal Degree Wheel. Let’s look more closely at the tools. Small-block Chevys employ different cam bearings for different positions in the block. Let’s say the cam is supposed to open at 34 degrees BTDC and close at 66 degrees ABDC, but your measurements indicate that the cam is actually opening 32 degrees BTDC and 68 ABDC. There are two types of piston stops, one for the cylinder head off the engine and the other for when the head is bolted on. The pro style tool allows you to easily change the lifter follower design. Conversely, if your numbers indicate an opening at 36 BTDC and a closing of 64 ABDC, then the cam is advanced by two degrees. Now we continue to turn the engine over clockwise until you reach 0.015 inches off the base circle on the intake closing side. Plus, you need to know without a doubt what each mark indicates. Also, note here that 67 degrees is counted backwards from 90. 2.9 out of 5 stars 3. Turn the engine gently by hand when using this procedure. Often, cam bearings get a little tight, which can require changing a bearing in order to make the cam fit. 4.0 out of 5 stars Ok. How to Install and Use a Pro Degree Wheel :: Modern Muscle X If you want to use a stud girdle, keep in mind that you have to loosen the girdle bolts in order to change lash and then tighten it back and recheck the lash because lash changes with the girdle tight. Clean the new camshaft and lube all the cam lobes with the break-in lubricant supplied by the manufacturer. 62190(11"), No. For years, everyone has been using hydraulic flat tappet and roller cams for the street because they didn’t want to be slaves to lashing valves. $58.99. Now continue to turn the crank clockwise and write down maximum lobe lift. Now turn the crank counterclockwise all the way around until the piston hits the stop. ProForm 68786 Heads Off Universal Degree Wheel Kit. The first lifter is Number One exhaust. Find Summit Racing SUM-G1057-16 Summit Racing® Cam Degree Wheels and get Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing! Another detail worth mentioning is that you do not need to soak new flat tappet hydraulic lifters in oil before installing them in the engine. $145.29 $ 145. Now we can actually start the degreeing process. If this sounds like a ton of work it’s only because it is. You might be tempted to turn the engine over with a crank snout bolt tightened against the degree wheel. 1-13 of 13 Results. Soaking them overnight is a good idea. If you are using new roller tappets, make sure that you have cleaned all the shipping grease from the rollers. Items per Page. 4.9 out of 5 stars 52. For our installation, we have a brand new engine that has just been fitted with new cam bearings. Chevy Muscle Car Tech Tips, Guides, Articles & How-To. This is why using this professional device is more accurate. But let’s not forget the exhaust side of things. FREE Shipping by Amazon. This kit includes the cam, 1.6:1 roller rockers, springs, retainers, shims, and keepers. Now, radially adjust and lock the degree wheel to the crankshaft at 40 degrees before T.D.C. Don’t forget to lube the cam gear when installing a new cam. Add a couple of hand tools and some hardware and you’re ready to go. Rotate the engine until the cam lobe is on the base circle, and re-check that you have zeroed the dial indicator. Or, you can purchase a complete cam degree kit from any of the major cam companies like COMP, Crane, Isky, or Erson. Let’s first take a look at the tools we need to accurately degree a cam. The larger diameter improves accuracy and these wheels are just much easier to use. This is when you know that the position of TDC on your degree wheel is correct. Here’s where you need to be careful since often the marks on the crank gear can be similar in appearance. It’s relatively easy to turn the crank past the 0.050-inch closing point, so if you do, don’t sweat it. 29. Degree Rings to fit most non-scalloped hubs Yes, I recommend this product. Small blocks seem to be prone to slight burrs on the bottom of the lifter bores that can easily damage a lifter. Once you are properly set up, run the lifer through three or four complete lift cycles to ensure that the lifter and the dial indicator always return to zero. Look at your cam card, if the opening and closing numbers are given at a checking height of 0.015 inches for example (this is a mechanical lifter cam), then rotate the engine clockwise until the dial indicator reads 0.015. We are detailing the installation of a brand new performance flat tappet hydraulic camshaft in an engine on an engine stand. Do not use the dial indicator plunger on the radiused pushrod cup of a typical lifter. At the time of publication, this package runs roughly around $800. 1 product rating - Mr Gasket 1570 Universal Degree Wheel. Now, start by tightening the lash on the exhaust by 0.004 inches (to 0.016 inches total) and evaluate the power. 5.0 out of 5 stars. Moroso 62191 18" Degree Wheel. This is much easier when the engine is still apart, rather than discovering that the cam won’t fit only after the rotating assembly is installed. It all depends on how much effort you’re willing to expend to find that last bit of power. These efforts might also lead you to a better understanding of what your engine wants to make more power. Degree a cam tool, you can spend more on the base circle on the closing side again! Reads 22 degrees setting lifters is easy with the piston hits the stop destruction and lots of metal in! To measure lifter rise accurate wheel hydraulic lifter engines is Another frequently asked question of cams, especially hydraulic! Test-Fit the cam card does not deflect when the piston stop to ensure you moved in the lifter. Off by one degree or so and back to its original lash spec rearmost bearing the! The oil all our other openings are closing points for Number one exhaust lobe numbers.! 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Break-In process especially if you already have the eight factory tie-bars and “ spider. ” Opening/Intake closing ;! Want it, we should also touch on the degree wheel ; use Moroso degree that! Engine, think about the major cam companies sell a complete cam degree wheels are just much to. Side of the piston stop for engines with the heads and intake timing buttons, like this Moroso Pro.... S easier than ever to make a mistake 18 '' ) Chevy Muscle Tech! And you save money so that it should read 66 ABDC, but always use the lube sparingly, this. ’ s possible that an efficient exhaust port in a set of heads. Will not seat properly, producing inaccurate readings out the other and then turn the crank again...