[inkfixer73]

im slowly puttin my sbc together and it says in the book i got set the lil notch on cam at 9 o clock. i got that. now the ? is do i set the number 1 at tdc before puttin on timin chain and gears?i no what tdc is but is that were the thecrank has to be in that position for the timing gears to be placed in.it sounds right to me but wanna make sure!

[DoubleVision]

i`m slightly confused by "lil notch"
If your referring to the timing marks on the cam and crank sprocket, the crank sprocket points at 12 o`clock and the cam sprocket at 6 o`clock, the number 1 cylinder will be at TDC. this is how they have to be set when you install the timing chain, otherwise the timing marks won`t line up.

[inkfixer73]

the lil notch im referring to on the cam is the thing that the timing gear fits onto.there only 1 lil notch there its like a lil nipplle.it says that that has to be facing 9 o clock before installin timing chain.but im just wandering were to set the crank before timing chain installation.which i thought should be top dead center.

[gt2betubbed]

DV already said it. The two dots on the "gears" of the chain should be facing each other. Top @ 6 o'clock, Bottom @ 12. That's the way it's done...

[jamnut]

I think I understand what he is trying to say. What you are talking about is the Cam Dowel, thats what keeps the gear in time on the cam shaft. So bolt your cam gear to the cam with that dowel going through the gear. Now rotate the gear that you put on the cam until the little dot on the bottom of the gear is pointing down @ 6 O clock, now put the timing gear on your crank shaft and turn the crank until the dot on that gear is at a 12:00 position or pointing straight up. once both of the gears have the dots in the right position pull back the crank gear & slip the chain on and push the gear forward to get the slack outta the chain.

Everybody reading this is going to say that there is an easier way to time the cam to the crank and there is, but this was the easiest way for me to explain it.

Just don't worry about the location of the cam dowel is, worry about where the timing marks are on the gears that go on the crank & cam. ( The Timing Chain Gears )

[Jmark]

I"d like to know the easier way!!!! LOL

[jamnut]

Originally posted by Jmark
I"d like to know the easier way!!!! LOL

The easier way involves me being able to identify TDC on the crank without having to put the timing gear on it. And I'm sure that most small block builders can do the same thing. But I guess I did all right explaining it to him.

[inkfixer73]

thanx man i totally undertstand what ur sayin thats exactly what i needed to no. but what if i have 2 dots on the crank and not noing which dot to use. or do i just put the timing gear on with the piston tdc.