Well i am swapping my stock 305 cam for the lt1 cam. Marked everything when i took the stock cam out. as well as the timing chain gears. and cam dowl pin location. And the distributor location.

Can i just line all that back up when i throw the lt1 cam in?

I searched before posting but didnt find anything.

 

The crank gear is keyed to the crank. The cam gear is keyed to the cam. They each only go on in one position.

Each gear has a dimple or other type of factory mark on it. This will be at a tooth.

Turn the crank to put this mark at high noon (12:00)

Turn the cam to put it's mark at 6:00 (the marks are facing each other).

Now remove the cam gear install the chain onto the gears, and place the cam gear back onto the cam. Double check that the marks are still lined up, put locktite on the cam bolts, install, and torque to spec (you did locktite the cam retainer plate bolts?).

Rotate the crank to put the cam gear mark at 12:00. Note that the crank gear will also be at 12:00. This is TDC compression/firing on #1.

To double double check the crank to cam alignment, rotate the crank another revolution to put the cam gear mark at 6:00. Does it still line up with the crank gear mark at 12:00?

If so, then good, rotate crank until the cam gear mark is back to 12:00 (TDC #1).

Note that you will need to shorten the LT1 cam dowel pin. Check the length against your stock cam. Then try tapping it in further. If it won't move then need to cut or grind it shorter.

Also remember that once the crank is set to TDC #1, don't rotate the crank again until the distributor is dropped in.

RBob.

 

I'd like to do something similar to this in my L05 block. What type of cam gear do I need for the distributor? Can I not use the one that was stock on the L05? I've seen copper ones that are 'roller friendly'. I have a Vortec distributor I bought for $5 and probably won't use, can I just remove that one and put it on my TBI small cap HEI distributor so that it will be roller cam friendly?

My truck is a '91, and as I understand wouldn't have the bosses tapped, but my truck has 236k miles and I have only owned it for 40k miles, don't know history. So, engine might be newer version of L05 with bosses drilled and tapped, ready for roller cam install. I have retainers, lifters, etc from a low mileage L31 with a stock L31 cam and stock 95 f-body LT1 cam, my pick, both are used but in good shape.

Anybody think it would be a bad idea to put the LT1 cam in a L05 with stock 193 heads? Valve spring recommendations? Ok to use the L31 stock springs with LT1 cam for about 20k miles? Is it ok to just rotate the engine until the piston is at the top of the cylinder and then swap the 2 springs on that cylinder and let the valves rest on top of the cylinders? Maybe poke a pen in the spark plug hole to hold the valve up? I don't have an air compressor to pump air in the chamber.

 

Well i finally get the cam in and go to line up the marks for the timing chain but the crank gear has no mark? Anyone got a pic of the mark on the crank gear, also what would be the next best way to get it tdc?

Wanna get the car finished by the end of the month... Hopefully.

 

first does your crank gear have 1 OR 3 keyways.. there will be a dot or symbol
to align the 2 gears.. if you do not see this dot.. you put the crank gear on backwards... your crank has woodruff key when you have the cam gear at 6:00
your crank at 12:00 the key will be at 1:00
you can take out the # 1 plug and put a something like a straw to feel your piston @ TDC.. if your not sure where your crank and cam are
make sure you aim your oil pump rod slightly before your 1 plug location

 

its got one key. It is the stock gears and for some reason the crank gear has no mark whats so ever. but the cam gear has a mark.

I was thinking of pulling the plug at checking that way. but want to make sure its positively tdc don't want to pull things back apart.