Timing Vortec engines

[Riche]

"With the engine OFF, slightly loosen the distributor hold down bolt. IMPORTANT: Cam Retard Offset reading will not be accurate below 1000 RPM.
Start the engine and raise engine speed to 1000 RPM.
Using a scan tool monitor Cam Retard Offset."

is Cam Retard Offset the same as spark advance????

[Jeremy-WI]

no, cam retard is the offsetin degrees from the signal from the crankshaft position sensor and the cam position sensor

[Riche]

http://www.obd-2.com

do you think this software will show you cam retard offset? I was looking on the site But I can't find were it show that value. I even downloaded the evaluation and played the demo. all I saw was spark advance

[Riche]

"List of possible GM Powertrain Specfic Real Time Data
699 items for model years 1995 and beyond.
Updated Nov. 2004 as used in Car Code Vehicle Explorer Scan Tool Browser enhanced data.
Powertrain Control Module address $10 on VPW network. SAE mode $22

Camshaft Reference Signal Missed Counts
Camshaft Retard Degrees
Camshaft Signal Input High or High to Low Counts"

I think I just answered my own question. I need to get this software. Man, I have alot to learn... what happend to the days of just turning the distributor till it ran right?

[Cadillakin'98]

Wow, there is alot of information going on in this thread that has me believing the answer to my neighbors motor we have recently installed. We have been trying to figure out that 1% that is keeping it from being 100% complete. There have been many of ?'s I have wanted to ask on here, but I have been trying to search through previous threads and have been able to answer some ?'s. However, I am now forced to ask a ? to make sure this info is relevant to our problem. We have installed a rebuilt 350 (5.7L) in his '88 C1500 body. Basically I just want to know if the information here would apply to the vehicle we are experiencing the tecnical difficulties. A simple "yes" or "no" reply will allow me to know if we are on the right path or not. We have been practicing alot of patience and restraint at the point we are at now, regardless of how anxious we may be to hear it fire up. Still diggin' the rich knowledge offered in this thread, no matter if it applies to our application or not, so please keep me learnin'!

[2000CAYukon]

Originally Posted by Cadillakin'98

Wow, there is alot of information going on in this thread that has me believing the answer to my neighbors motor we have recently installed. We have been trying to figure out that 1% that is keeping it from being 100% complete. There have been many of ?'s I have wanted to ask on here, but I have been trying to search through previous threads and have been able to answer some ?'s. However, I am now forced to ask a ? to make sure this info is relevant to our problem. We have installed a rebuilt 350 (5.7L) in his '88 C1500 body. Basically I just want to know if the information here would apply to the vehicle we are experiencing the tecnical difficulties. A simple "yes" or "no" reply will allow me to know if we are on the right path or not. We have been practicing alot of patience and restraint at the point we are at now, regardless of how anxious we may be to hear it fire up. Still diggin' the rich knowledge offered in this thread, no matter if it applies to our application or not, so please keep me learnin'!

The information in this thread only applies to 1996 - 1999 Vortec Engines (Gen 1 blocks with a distributor).

Your neighbors 88 should be a TBI engine and setting the timing requires that you disconnect the EST wire near the firewall under the black wire cover.

//2000CAYukon

[Cadillakin'98]

Ok thanks. I was just scrolling through and many things were drawing my attention. I was hoping to have hit the jackpot but....oh well.

Soooo, now that we are still @ square one, could anyone please verify the color the EST wire should be? Is it the tan with black trace wire?

[2000CAYukon]

Originally Posted by Cadillakin'98

Ok thanks. I was just scrolling through and many things were drawing my attention. I was hoping to have hit the jackpot but....oh well.

Soooo, now that we are still @ square one, could anyone please verify the color the EST wire should be? Is it the tan with black trace wire?

It is either black with a tan line or tan with a black line, I can never remember. It can easily be disconnected and I think it is the only wire like that under the cover.

What exactly is the problem with the 88? Won't start, won't run?

Do you already have a thread going on this?

//2000CAYukon

[lemon01]

I'm bringing up this old post, becasue I'm having problems that relate to this.

I recently replaced the distributor on my "97" 350 vortech.

I am getting a code that indicates the correlation between the Cam position and Crank position is out from one antoher.

I'm assuming the scanner that's mentioned in the replies is more than a code scanner and the cost is quite a bit more as well.

Is there a way to set the cam position sensor without a scanner?

I don't think I'm too far out, becasue it seems to run good. I thought about using the code scanner to reset the codes, move the distributor a degree or two, start the engine to see if code comes back. Repeat the process until it doesn't come back on.

Any thoughts?

[rumblefish73]

Just replaced the distributor on my 98 Tahoe as per advice from a local dealer's shop supervisor to cure stalling / misfires / stumbling.

Found that after i've replaced it that it lit up the engine light and spit out a P1345 code.

I marked it carefully and re-installed in the same position it came out. Luckily I have a friend with a Snap-On Scanner "Brick" that I had hooked to this truck previously.

What I remember though was after I had the intake coolant leak fixed and they also replaced the timing chain that the camshaft reading was -3 and I thought that they might have been off a tooth when reinstalling the cam gear on the cam. Can someone let me know if this is possible to find out or if the cam retard reading is only the correlation between the crank and the cam and if negative 3 would have made the motor run rough, stall and all the crap i've been going through with this?

Thanks!

Jay