Here's a good brain teaser for you Dodge guys. We went to replace the timing chain on my truck last week, Brought #1 on TDC on commpression stroke, took front off the engine and the Timing dots were lined up with the Cam gear dot on top and the crank gear was at the top. Now all the manuals that I have say the dots are to be lined up Bottom of Cam gear and Top of the Crank gear. So buy looking at this the Cam was 180' out of time but the truck was running. We tried to line the dots up buy the books and the truck wouldnt hit a bit. Now after a week of cussing and asking everyone I know, they are all stumped. So today I took it back apart and lined the Cam gear dot at the top and #1 at TDC ON COMMPRESION STROKE, which put the Crank gear dot at the top. Took both valve covers off and made sure that both valves on #1 and #8 were closed. And guess what the truck fired right up. I know the motor has never been apart before so what gives????? The cam must have been made with the key way 180' out from the factory. Or did Dodge make 318's that the marks line up like this????????? I bet the motor guy at the factory had a hell of a time trying to set this motor up. OH AND TO LET EVERYONE KNOW A 318 WILL NOT RUN IF THE CAM IS 180' OUT AND YOU CAN NOT MAKE UP FOR IT IN THE DISTRIBUTOR!!!!!!!!!!! So when you get a new timing set for your truck and you are sure that you brought #1 up on TDC on the commpression stroke and the timing mark to 0' DONT MOVE THE CAM GEAR 180' IF THE DOTS ARE LINED UP WITH THE CAM GEAR DOT ON THE TOP!!!!!!!!!!!
red83150
- Status
Huh. Well, that's about the damnest thing I've ever heard of.... I can imagine the wrenchs being thrown and what came outta' your mouth .. 
Did you replace the sprockets also? I ask, because I wonder if you didn't have a sprocket with the dot punched on the wrong end... I'm guessing that you replaced everything though (Isn't it fun trying to get that new seal to seat straight in the timing cover?)
Yeah, I would have to say that someone was asleep at the wheel when they ran off a batch of cams at some point. I'd guess that they knew about it (Or found out real quick) and rather than disassemble an almost complete engine, told the guys on the line "Until we run out of this batch of cams, put it together like this", thinking that maybe nobody would ever be tearing them apart again, or if they did, it was their problem.
If you have any mass engine rebuilders in your area, it might be interesting to find out if they've run across this before.
I gotta' tell ya though, if I'd of run into something that strange, I'd of put the new set on and cranked the engine over to see if it would start before before reassembeling the rest of it... Especially being as getting that timing cover and the oil pan gasket pieces all back together isn't a day at Disneyland... But, that's all water under the bridge now...
Did you replace the sprockets also? I ask, because I wonder if you didn't have a sprocket with the dot punched on the wrong end... I'm guessing that you replaced everything though (Isn't it fun trying to get that new seal to seat straight in the timing cover?)
Yeah, I would have to say that someone was asleep at the wheel when they ran off a batch of cams at some point. I'd guess that they knew about it (Or found out real quick) and rather than disassemble an almost complete engine, told the guys on the line "Until we run out of this batch of cams, put it together like this", thinking that maybe nobody would ever be tearing them apart again, or if they did, it was their problem.
If you have any mass engine rebuilders in your area, it might be interesting to find out if they've run across this before.
I gotta' tell ya though, if I'd of run into something that strange, I'd of put the new set on and cranked the engine over to see if it would start before before reassembeling the rest of it... Especially being as getting that timing cover and the oil pan gasket pieces all back together isn't a day at Disneyland... But, that's all water under the bridge now...
Im getting ready to replace the timing chain in my trusty ole 87 D150 W/ 318.... this will be the second change, the first was around 75K ( it was stretched) , now w/ 150K, it will be a garage project when the weather gets colder, and the outside work falls off....... I read once in a mopar mag, that the cam timing on the 70`s & 80`s mopars was retarded, for emission purposes.......Im thinking of installing a double roller, and advancing it maybe 2 or 4 degrees.....Should give me more low end torque, and hopefully, better mileage. Anyone have any thoughts on this???
- Status
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
