318 budget build

I never use a piston stop to set TDC. You can get close, but I've seen too many guys miss with it.

I verify TDC by rolling the piston to .050 before TDC and take a reading off the wheel. Then go past TDC and read the .050 down number. They better be equal or you haven't found true TDC.

Most small blocks come out at about 11 degrees on both sides of TDC. If you have say 8 on one side and 14 on the other, you need to split the difference and check it again.

Once you KNOW you have TDC, then you can use .050 lifter rise or the intake centerline to degree the cam.

I prefer the intake centerline because the lifter bank angles can change the at .050 measurement and the ICL will always be what it is. You can have several different cams with the same at .050 timing that are totally different when it comes to ICL.

That said, I also NEVER try and find the exact center of the lobe by just running to the top of the lobe. You'll never be in the exact center of the lobe.

I use the lobe height minus .050 and take a reading at those numbers.

So, let's say we have a lobe with .400 lift. I zero the indicator on the base circle and run the lifter up to .350 on the opening side and read the wheel. Then go past max lift and when the dial indicator reads .350 on the closing side (which is only .050 nominally past max lift) and read the wheel again. Add them together and divide by 2 and you have the ICL.

That way, you know the exact center is between the two lift points and the center line is exactly where th card calls for.