Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!

which way does a 350 rotate? (cam degreeing woes)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-23-2005, 08:48 PM
  #1  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
spills's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Buford, GA
Posts: 996
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 89 RS
Engine: 6.3L Megasquirted HSR
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.70 Posi 9 bolt
which way does a 350 rotate? (cam degreeing woes)

Reason Im asking is because 1. I havent seen my motor runnin in over a year, so I forgot which direction the crank turned (counter clock or clockwise), and 2. Im degreeing in my cam right now, and it seems that the balancer and degree wheel suggest that the crank goes counter clock. HOWEVER, by watching the valve events in relation to the #1 cylinder, it looks as if it should be turning clockwise

If I turn it clockwise, all the valve events are normal. IVO, IVC, compression, combustion, EVO, EVC. Maybe Im just not "learned" enough yet in cam/crank degrees, but I just get the cam to give me the same specs that came on my card. I highly doubt comp ground a cam a$$ backwards. Can someone tell me where Im goin wrong? I found TDC and set the pointer to TDC on the degree wheel.
Old 08-23-2005, 08:50 PM
  #2  
Moderator

 
Apeiron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Posts: 20,981
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Clockwise when you're standing in front of the engine looking at the crank.
Old 08-23-2005, 08:56 PM
  #3  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
spills's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Buford, GA
Posts: 996
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 89 RS
Engine: 6.3L Megasquirted HSR
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.70 Posi 9 bolt
ok, thats actually a relief. Somebody at my shop said he thought it went counter clock.

And if it does go clockwise, then somethings up with degree wheel. You know the areas where it suggest about when the valves should open and close? Well, if I go clockwise, the events are as follows. EVC, EVO, IVC, IVO. Should I pay any attention to those, or just go by the numbers on the wheel, and not the suggested timing event frames?
Old 08-24-2005, 06:49 PM
  #4  
Supreme Member
 
NastyL98_T/A's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Severn, MD.
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: '88 T/A and '90 T/A
Engine: LB9/383
Transmission: T5/700R4
Be careful going off the stock pointer. You will want to calibrate it. I've seen more than a couple that were off by 4* or more, but some are dead on. Pull #1 up to TDC and just check to make sure that 0* on the pointer is looking at the 0* line on the balancer. If not you'll have to cut the tab off the timing cover and weld it in the correct spot or buy and aftermarket adjustable pointer.

But to answer your question, Aperion is right, clockwise.
Old 08-24-2005, 06:53 PM
  #5  
Moderator

 
Apeiron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Posts: 20,981
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
What degree wheel are you using?

Remember that the cam will be turning clockwise relative to the engine, but the pointer on the degree wheel will be turning counterclockwise relative to the wheel.
Old 08-24-2005, 07:39 PM
  #6  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
spills's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Buford, GA
Posts: 996
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 89 RS
Engine: 6.3L Megasquirted HSR
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.70 Posi 9 bolt
Im using the cheaper wheel from Comp. What do you mean that the "pointer on the degree wheel will be turning counterclockwise relative to the wheel". I figured the crank is moving the same direction as the degree wheel, so they should me the same
Old 08-24-2005, 07:58 PM
  #7  
Moderator

 
Apeiron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Posts: 20,981
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Well, the crank turns clockwise when the block is sitting still. But imagine if you held the crank still, and turned the block around it. The block would be turning counterclockwise then, and so the markings on the degree wheel might seem backwards.
Old 08-24-2005, 08:58 PM
  #8  
Supreme Member
 
NastyL98_T/A's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Severn, MD.
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: '88 T/A and '90 T/A
Engine: LB9/383
Transmission: T5/700R4
Originally posted by Apeiron
Well, the crank turns clockwise when the block is sitting still. But imagine if you held the crank still, and turned the block around it. The block would be turning counterclockwise then, and so the markings on the degree wheel might seem backwards.
It's hard to describe let alone understand without someone showing you but Aperion described it pretty well.
Old 08-25-2005, 12:48 PM
  #9  
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
 
vernw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dallas, TX area
Posts: 3,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 Formula WS6 (Black, T-Tops)
Engine: 383 MiniRam (529 HP, 519 TQ - DD2K)
Transmission: Built '97 T56, Pro 5.0, CF-DF
Axle/Gears: 4.11 posi Ford 9"
How eould you go about calibrating your timing pointer w/o pulling the heads on an assembled motor?
Old 08-25-2005, 12:49 PM
  #10  
Moderator

 
Apeiron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Posts: 20,981
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Use a piston stop.
Old 08-25-2005, 01:10 PM
  #11  
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
 
vernw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dallas, TX area
Posts: 3,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 Formula WS6 (Black, T-Tops)
Engine: 383 MiniRam (529 HP, 519 TQ - DD2K)
Transmission: Built '97 T56, Pro 5.0, CF-DF
Axle/Gears: 4.11 posi Ford 9"
Thanks, ordering one today. None of the parts houses around here even know what I'm asking for.....
Old 08-25-2005, 01:28 PM
  #12  
Moderator

 
Apeiron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Posts: 20,981
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
You want the kind that threads into the spark plug hole, of course. Not the kind that bolts to the deck
Old 08-25-2005, 01:40 PM
  #13  
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
 
vernw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dallas, TX area
Posts: 3,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 Formula WS6 (Black, T-Tops)
Engine: 383 MiniRam (529 HP, 519 TQ - DD2K)
Transmission: Built '97 T56, Pro 5.0, CF-DF
Axle/Gears: 4.11 posi Ford 9"
Yep, got that part already figured out, but Thanks for making sure I didn't mess it up!!! (I've been known to on easier stuff, that's for sure!)

Old 08-25-2005, 05:41 PM
  #14  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
spills's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Buford, GA
Posts: 996
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 89 RS
Engine: 6.3L Megasquirted HSR
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.70 Posi 9 bolt
lol, I did the same thing! For some reason I decided to bolt down the driver side head first, not thinkin that the balancer and pointer arent even adjsuted yet
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
theshackle
Tech / General Engine
4
09-17-2020 08:26 AM
MoJoe
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
11
09-24-2015 09:12 PM
bamaboy0323
Tech / General Engine
25
09-03-2015 06:07 AM
camaro71633
Tech / General Engine
39
09-01-2015 10:24 AM
theshackle
Tech / General Engine
2
08-22-2015 06:52 PM



Quick Reply: which way does a 350 rotate? (cam degreeing woes)



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:43 AM.