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Hello, I have a question I have been stuck on for a while. Iv tried researching but my problem is more complicated. My engine timing is completely messed up and I don’t know how big or small of a issue I have created. I have a 74 trans am 4 speed that I’m restoring, I knew it had a head gasket leak so I start stripping down the engine. I pull the heads off. I see Corrosion is on the cam, lifters, and here and there so I want to pull it all out and replace the timing chain and gears. I Pull off the harmonic balancer now it’s time for the timing chain and this is when my lack of experience kicks in… I cranked the crank bolt until the cam and crank are perfectly lined up at top dead center. I did not have a gear puller for the crankshaft gear and I was determined to get it off so the timing chain and camshaft can come out. I decide to use bolt cutters and cut the timing chain off. The crank gear would still be in place but atleast I could pull out the camshaft. I try pulling out the camshaft but it won’t come out. This is where I completely confuse myself. I’m trying to force it out by pulling on it and I don’t know why but at the time I thought it would help by rotating the cam. So at this time the cam has been completely rotated around while Iv Been trying to pull on it and the cam came out about half inch or so as I was gently sliding it in and out trying to get it out. Not until now I realize it’s not coming out because I haven’t removed the distributor so the distributor gear was holding the cam in. I used my light to inspect the distributor gear before removing it and I realized that earlier when I was rotating and pulling the camshaft, the end of the camshaft gear would pull out just far enough to unlatch from the distributor gear so it would freely spin without disturbing the distributor gear.. Now I pull out the distributor and I assume the camshaft is completely out of time with everything so I just pulled the cam out without trying to somehow get it back in time.. So that’s my problem and I’m not sure if this is even serious I’m just very confused now since I’m replacing all these parts. Any help will be very much appreciated. Thank you.
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Your crank gear and cam gear should have marks that line up with each other (in line where they are closest together). Get them in place and re-install the timing chain…
Here is a link for installing the distributor….
http://www.corvetteforum.com/techtips/viewsubtopic.php?SubTopicID=107&TopicID=3
🙂 Hi Derek , it is great to see that you are working on a classic engine. The first thing I would do is find a manual on your car and read about engine disassembly. You may find a repair manual at a bookstore or used book seller or even the local library, but I would get a repair manual that you can own and not worry about returning. Since this is a rather simple engine compared to the newer style multi valved engines of today, you will have no trouble in setting everything back to the correct settings. With a manual to help guide you, the rebuilding of your engine will go quickly. You did take it apart rather differently, but it can be rebuilt correctly, it is a simple design for the timing gears and chains. You will find it to be an easy task to correct, but I do believe you need a manual to guide you and give you reference information that you will need. Good Luck with your project.
Thanks Karl, that picture along with your advice helped put things in perspective and the link was also helpful and interesting. Thanks
Line up the marks as above, get the spark plug wires where they should go, point the rotor at #1 plug and good to go.
Anyway, the above is simple. Forget about it for now and concentrate on doing a good job of restoring and sealing the engine. Get a book. I have owned two TransAms of that vintage and loved them.
Perhaps I missed it, but you also need to remove the lifters before the cam will come out. Some great suggestions here and I have little to add. The pic that ToyotaKarl posted was great and I think covers most of what you need to know. I can’t stress enough how using the correct tools helps however. Pullers aren’t that expensive and will save your life in those situations. Lastly, this is a lot of work that you’re doing to that engine. That said, just replacing parts may not always be enough. When doing heavy engine work like that it’s not a bad idea to check the clearances as well. Also not a bad idea to consult with a machine shop as they do that type of work all the time. They may be able to offer valuable advice to help you get the job done right and avoid any issues.
Good luck and keep us posted.
The distributor and the lifters need to be removed before the cam will come out. If you have a hammer and good steel chisel you can split the crank gear at the woodruff key to remove it. Make sure you place rags in the open oil pan area so the pieces don’t fall into the pan.
I have had camshafts that were hard to remove. I took a short length of chain and bolted it to the camshaft. Let the chain go slack and them snap the chain tight. A slide hammer is better but I assume that you don’t have one.
It should be enough to remove the cam.
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