camshaft change

[auto-man-alta]

Well, I started out to do a simple thing and it got interesting from there. I had to change the camshaft in my 72' chevelle 350, lobe wore off on #6 intake. Since I had it apart and the timing chain was streched, figured I would install a gear drive. Followed all the instruc's but now thing wont' start. I set #1 to TDC, crank index at 12:00. cam index at 6:00. camshaft dowel at 3:00. Rotated 1 rev one the crank, dropped the dist in for #1 and ...... nothing. What have I missed?
I've set all the valves twice, got lots of spark, carbs good. Should I hav e set it up, crank 12:00,cam 12:00, dowel at 9:00 ?

[pro_am]

All i can tell you is that you have to make sure that the dots on the cam and the crank line up, no matter what.
Jake

[Bo408]

Originally Posted by pro_am

All i can tell you is that you have to make sure that the dots on the cam and the crank line up, no matter what.
Jake

What exactly does one do?

[musclecarfanatic]

i beleive those dots let in fuel but im not exactly sure, but yes it is important u need to have them lined up

[vinman]

When you line up the dots, the distributor should be pointing at #1 sparkplug wire in the cap. If its already together, pull #1 sparkplug out. Crank engine over until you feel air come out of it, then keep turning over by hand until mark on balancer lines up with 0 on the timing tab. Then drop dist in poiting at #1 plug on cap.

[MrPbody]

If assembled, "blowing number 1" as vinman describes is the best way to install the distributor.
If the timing cover is still off, put both dots at 12 o'clock. This will put number 1 cylinder up on compression, and number 6 on "overlap". It is quite common for one to install the gears dot-to-dot, only to install the distributor 180 degrees out by pointing it at number 1.
If you go through all this and still can't get it to fire, get out a degree wheel and some instructions, and degree thecam first. Then, step through the distributor installation.
If it STILL won't run, make sure the valves aren't too tight (hanging open by tightening too far) and make sure you HAVE compression. After that, go through the normal diagnostics to determine that you have fuel, spark, etc.

[TechX]

I think in some cases if you buy a cam from one company and a timing gear set from another the distributor many times ends up 180 degrees off. I have had this happen more than once. If I am trying to start a fresh built engine and it doesn't start right away I know that is the problem. I am buying gears and cam from the same company more and more.

[Cryo boy]

Hey auto-man-alta... What do you mean the #6 wore off, i did not know that cams could wear down. Unless you mean that you wiped a lobe, and yes id say flip the distributor, and if that dont work degree it in.

[yz85guy]

hey man ,are you sure the firing order is right?make sureyou have the number 1 wire in the right place in dist.cap .the firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.start at 1&go clockwise,look on intake for cyylinder order,right side [facing engine] 2-4-6-8,left 1-3-5-7.as others stated make sure valves arent too tight.with valve cover off make sure both valves on no.1 cyl.are closed ,&timing mark on crankshaft is on 0.put dist.in ,with rotor on no.1,if youre getting fuel & fire it should crank.