440 timing chain question

[trudysduster]

Hey guys did I get this right. rebuilding my 440 and I went with a Summit timing chain # SUM-G6604R-B timing set. It has a lot of positions the other one didnt. I put # 1 cylinder TDC and lined up the marks. just want to be sure. Box didnt have any directions. Thanks,Bill

 

[Dana67Dart]

Without instructions from Summit.

This is how I read the markings.

The green slot goes onto the keyway for straight up. (No advance or retard)

Then you align the dot upper red arrow (currently at 12:00) with the "0" red arrow on the sprocket

Factory shows the keyway is at about 2:00 position with the dots aligned.

 

[RustyRatRod]

If it didn't involve a degree wheel, chances are probably less than 50/50 that it's "right". But the dots appear lined up.

 

[trudysduster]

Without instructions from Summit.

This is how I read the markings.

The green slot goes onto the keyway for straight up. (No advance or retard)

Then you align the dot upper red arrow (currently at 12:00) with the "0" red arrow on the sprocket


View attachment 1716505188



Factory shows the keyway is at about 2:00 position with the dots aligned.
View attachment 1716505189

Yeah, If I had turned the engine over the keyway would have been at 2:00 but the book I have said to turn the engine with crank at the top. Dont know why I did because I never done it that way before. If you change the timing chain while it is in the car you are not going to turn the engine over. So I guess I have it right. Thanks guys.

 

[65 Cuda 340]

If it didn't involve a degree wheel, chances are probably less than 50/50 that it's "right". But the dots appear lined up.

Best practice would be to degree the cam. But I confess I have thrown a couple of motors together without doing so. (Not lately, though.)

 

[Vaanth]

Hey guys did I get this right. rebuilding my 440 and I went with a Summit timing chain # SUM-G6604R-B timing set. It has a lot of positions the other one didnt. I put # 1 cylinder TDC and lined up the marks. just want to be sure. Box didnt have any directions. Thanks,Bill

View attachment 1716505166

It looks like you are on your way with a basic installation without degreeing, and have received some guidance already, but attached are the instructions for the SUM-G6604R-B timing set from Summit. The instructions are relatively general.

 

[Dana67Dart]

Yeah, If I had turned the engine over the keyway would have been at 2:00 but the book I have said to turn the engine with crank at the top. Dont know why I did because I never done it that way before. If you change the timing chain while it is in the car you are not going to turn the engine over. So I guess I have it right. Thanks guys

In all reality.

If you had a stock timing set it would only have one key way.

Cam timing and ignition timing are 2 different things.

The cam and crank can only go together one way.

Meaning regardless of where TDC on the number one piston is if you set the stock sprockets up so they are dot to dot. The cam is timed to the crank.

Then you rotate the engine till you are on TDC of the compression stroke on the #1 cyl and set the distributer and drive in the correct orientation and your done.

There are other ways to do the same but this will work

Yeah, If I had turned the engine over the keyway would have been at 2:00 but the book I have said to turn the engine with crank at the top. Dont know why I did because I never done it that way before. If you change the timing chain while it is in the car you are not going to turn the engine over. So I guess I have it right. Thanks guys

I flipped your photo over. And assuming the keyway is in 0 green and the 0 is lined up with the dot red it looks right to me

 

[Dana67Dart]

The instructions are relatively general

"Relatively" general. Seems more useless to me.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Yeah, If I had turned the engine over the keyway would have been at 2:00 but the book I have said to turn the engine with crank at the top. Dont know why I did because I never done it that way before. If you change the timing chain while it is in the car you are not going to turn the engine over. So I guess I have it right. Thanks guys.

Just understand that when you go to install the distributor you'll need to do one of two things. Either install the distributor timed to #6, or rotate the engine one full crankshaft revolution so it will be timed on #1, because right now it's timed on #6.

 

[AndyF]

You can tell by watching the cam lobes and the #1 piston. At one TDC both lifters will be on the base circle, at the other TDC both lifters will be on a cam flank. Intake opening, Exhaust closing. This is much more obvious with a race cam than a stock cam, but if you pay attention you can see what is happening. Typically at the split overlap TDC the lifters should both be raised by the same amount.

 

[trudysduster]

Just understand that when you go to install the distributor you'll need to do one of two things. Either install the distributor timed to #6, or rotate the engine one full crankshaft revolution so it will be timed on #1, because right now it's timed on #6.

Rusty, how can you tell it is timed on #6. I dont have the heads on it so I didnt get the # 1 compression.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Rusty, how can you tell it is timed on #6

It's dot to dot. That's on #6. Turn the crank ONE revolution and it will be timed on #1.

 

[trudysduster]

It's dot to dot. That's on #6. Turn the crank ONE revolution and it will be timed on #1.

ok so it is 180 out then

 

[RustyRatRod]

ok so it is 180 out then

No it's right. You just need to turn the engine ONE crank revolution if you want to drop the distributor in on #1. Otherwise drop it in on #6.

#1 is in time when the dots on both sprockets are both at the 12 o'clock position. Then you can drop the distributor in on #1.

They only show install dot to dot for ease of lining the dots up. It's a little harder to do to put the cam sprocket at 12 o'clock.

All that said, you really should degree the cam.