TR2/3/3A 60 TR3 Cam Timing

Afternoon all:

Working on my engine, more specifically working on the cam timing. I have a reground cam with a middle hot grind, new lifters, new cam chain wheel. My #1 piston is set at TDC using a dial indicator and the #1 piston push rods are set at the balance position (both valves closed) timing chain is not installed at this point. with the engine set as I have described the timing marks on the crank and the cam wheel are not alligned, if I allign them, then the push rods are no longer in the balance position. At what point should they be alligned? Since I have a profound lack of expertise and knowledge, I really could use some help with this one.

Thanks, Tinkerman

Hello Tinkerman,

you will need to refer to your cam supplier for specific timing instructions. You could look at number for cylinder and if the cam is a symmetrically timed cam then both push rods should be at an equal lift. But really, the cam supplier should give you the data to set the cam.
Be careful of checking TDC as it takes some care to get it spot on. You need to use a degree wheel and rotate the crank to say .200" of the piston below max height before and after TDC, noting the degree wheel at those two points then divide by two to get true TDC. Do this about three times for accuracy.

Alec

It has been a while since I helped degree a cam but it seems to me it was #4 pushrods that needed to be at the balance point. Piman is right you MUST have a degree wheel and the cam specs to be right.
MD(mad dog)

Yep I have the degree wheel and the spec sheet, so, no problem there. So what your saying is that the #4 cylinder push rods need to be at the balance point? I will check it out when I get home today.

Thanks, Tinkerman

So I set the #4 piston push rods at the balance point and Lo and Behold, the timing marks matched, well after a little adjusting. My next step is to install the cam chain and check the valve opening and closing against the valve grinders chart. If that is all in sync, I should be OK right? Or is there some other little stuff in there that I should know about?

Anyhow thanks for your input, anything else would be appreciated.

Cheers, Tinkerman