I just installed a new cam in my 82 trans am 305. Along with the cam I installed new lifters and pushrods. I have the engine completely back together now and I just need to install the distributor and set the valve lash. Unfortunately I did not set the #1 cylinder to TDC on comp stroke before I took the engine apart. I took note of the distributor position before I removed it on disassembly, but I had to rotate the crank after I installed the new cam to line the dots up on the cam sprocket and the crank sprocket. How can I find TDC now so I get the distributor back in the right spot? Also, how tight do I make the rocker nuts to start out with? The new lifters won't be filled with oil now, so they are gong to be extra springy. Should I tighten them all the way so the valves lift then back them off after the engine has been running to let the oil in? Should I have soaked the new lifters in oil before I installed them to fill them with oil? Thanks

 

Just pull the number one spark plug and put your finger in the hole. Then have a friend turn the engine over. When you feel alot of pressure in the hole you are at tdc for the #1. Then just stab you distributor and point it at the number one. You may have to rotate the cap back and forth to get it started and to get the timing right but this method is fairly accurate. And on the valve lash question. In all of the cam swaps I have done I just set the valve lash normall with the intake off and every car Ive done this on has fired right up. Good Luck.

 

Dot to dot on the cam sprocket versus crank sprocket is #1 TDC. Just not on the TDC of compression. dot to dot also means that the #6 is on TDC, BUT #6 is on the firing. in otherwords, your distributor is 180° off. Set it to the terminal that you have set as corresponding to #6.

Setting valve lash:
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...t=setting+lash
Look at Vaders post. If that doesnt explain it, i dont know what will.

If you didnt soak them you can always prime the pump via drill to get the oil up there without applying stress to the lifters.

 

Just so I understand,

With the dots on the crank sprocket and cam sprocket lined up (balancer mark also is lined up at 0*) the #6 cylinder is at TDC on compression stroke and #1 is a TDC but not on comp stroke. So I can insert the dist so the rotor is pointed at #6? Then if I rotate the engine one more full turn, the #1 cylinder will be at TDC on the compression stroke and rotor should be pointed at #1?

Also thanks for the link to Vaders explanation on setting valve lash. Very detailed!

 

Correct. Or youcan turn the engine one more full turn and drop the dizzy in on #1. I prefer to set the dizzy to #6.

 

Cool thanks alot!

Will I hurt anything if I don't prime the oil pump first to get oil in the lifters?

 

Priming the pump is more of a precautionary measure, if you will. Some on this site swear by it, others say its not needed. If you used enough assembly lube on the cam and lobe faces, you should be ok for that 1 second or less that it takes for oil to reach the top end. I know ede thinks its a waste of time. Ive split my builds about 50/50 when it comes to priming. So i have, others i havent. the ones that i have are running just as well as the ones that arent.