[16th hippy]

Originally Posted by 777stickman

16th hippy. I think you're putting out some wrong advice for the '96 and newer OBD2 systems. Read the post by "wafrederick". What he says is absolutely correct.

The "cam offset or cam retard" mode can only be accessed by a high end scan tool. When this mode is selected it puts the VCM into a "base" timing mode. That is when the timing can be set to 0 degs as read from the scan tool, not a timing light.

As far as dist installation on these OBD2 motors, the rotor needs to be pointing at a small #8 cast in the dist ( for V-8's) when the dist is fully seated and the flat part of the dist is facing forward. This needs to happen with the #1 cyl at TDC on the compression stroke. There is a mark on the dampener and a tab on the timing chain cover to show TDC.

Hope this clears some things up.

actually it does. as i said, never had to "adjust" timing on any i have done due to marking the dist and so on. as for lining up the rotor with that #8 on there, makes sense as when dist gear meshes up with cam gear, the rotor will then be pointed at #1...or it should anyway. i have on the other hand had to do the entire process on older motors, and using the scan tool on a newer one seems to be the same as unplugging the "timing connector" on the older ones. in any case, i do appreciate the info and will have to remember that if i ever have to re-build one of the newer ones.