Skool me on timing w/o timing tab

[BillK]

If your truck is an 85 and it has the original cover, the timing tab will be at 12 o'clock behind the water pump like 77Dmax said. You have to climb up and look straight down to see it.

 

[legopnuematic]

This is for the 283 you’ve been working on correct?

 

[1low4x4]

Yes, the 283 out of the 65. The engine is still out of the truck

 

[Ricko1966]

Yes, the 283 out of the 65. The engine is still out of the truck

Okay this puts a whole new light on things. The first 20 minutes on that new cam are going to be the most critical moments of its life. You want static timing as close as possible on start up because the first 20 minutes you need to keep the rpms up too high to time with a light.,What valve springs are you running? What distributor are you running?

 

[projo198]

Not hard to build your own, had to do this on my Trans Am.

I just used some thicker sheet metal to replicate a "bar" including a tab for bolting it to the motor. Then with an advanced timing light you can determine TDC, watch where the scribe is hitting the bar you made and file notches in it. Then adjust the light for negative and positive markings and make more notches.

I had issues with getting any aftermarket ones to end up in the correct place.

 

[1low4x4]

Okay this puts a whole new light on things. The first 20 minutes on that new cam are going to be the most critical moments of its life. You want static timing as close as possible on start up because the first 20 minutes you need to keep the rpms up too high to time with a light.,What valve springs are you running? What distributor are you running?

my fears/concerns exactly.

The springs that came with the cam, I’ll have to look at the box. A new hei distributor I need to order

 

[Ricko1966]

my fears/concerns exactly.

The springs that came with the cam, I’ll have to look at the box. A new hei distributor I need to order

If you have a point fired distributor for breakin they are easier to set static timing. For cam breakin you should use breakin springs or run just the outer springs from a set of mild dual springs. Change to real springs in 500 miles keep the rpms down until correct springs are on. This keeps the operating pressures down on the cam lobes until after the cam work hardens. I fire them up breakin the cam for 30 minutes,then drain the oil hot and do an oil/filter change. Seems wasteful but to me nbd I feel better getting all the BS from assembly/breakin out,ASAP. Fill the carb through the vent tube before initial fire up so you aren't cranking trying to get fuel to the carb,put a box fan in front of the grill,if you have some old valve covers use a hole saw to make windows in the top so you can watch the pushrods rotate. If you have pushrods that don't rotate,investigate before you have a flat cam.