Technical Changing Cam on a stock SBC 350

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Devin

 

Alright here we go.. last update to close this thread out... somehow I got it to 6 pages with my overthinking!

I finished the timing chain set job and it was more a PITA than I thought it would be but no where close to as bad as the dual timing chain and guides I did on my daily driver (2009 Nissan Xterra).

The oil pan and seal was very easy to work with, the crankshaft sprocket was a bastard, even after putting it in the oven at 350 for 30 minute or using a high setting heat gun.. I had to use a harmonic balancer installer and some sockets (instead of pipe). The job took me 3 and a half days (not full days though) because being the clean/neat OCD freak I am every time I touched anything a ton of disgusting black cruddy grease would fall down and I couldn't fight the urge to clean it up.

Thus far no leaks of oil from the timing cover or oil pan (it used to leak a lot!). No coolant leak. I replaced the belts while I was at it, new harmonic balancer, and all new coolant and new oil and filter, new idle mixture screws. I fixed the issue with the throttle linkage not having been set correctly and kickdown cable and now I can get to WOT.

When fired up and let it warm up I checked timing and it was at 15 degrees (with vac canister plugged) and I left it there. I set the idle at 800 rpm and adjusted idle mixture screws and had a vacuum reading of 18.5 in Hg.

I drove it to Fiesta Island not too far from me and then back home and when going up the moderately steep hill it did it no problem at all and I didn't have to press the pedal near the floor like before, I barely was touching the pedal. It felt torquey and similar to my daily driver which has a rating of 261 hp.

I don't think I need more power for what I'm doing with this truck. So there it is, no more work to this truck planned other than install the electric divorced choke conversion kit I bought and brake job perhaps later in the year (flush fluid and change/check shoes and some lines that have rust buildup). Looking back at where I started with this truck in late 2016, I've done a fair bit. It used to shift awful, I could only steer well in one direction because the P/S gearbox was flexing the frame and it had stripped gears, it always had two spark plugs full of black oil, it would blow a lot of smoke out the exhaust, the mufflers were basically barely hanging on they were so rusted out, it would often stutter uphill or from take-off and leaked oil everywhere including trans fluid. Its way more drive-able now in my opinion after doing all the work to take care of those issues. It felt a bit better uphill but hard to know if thats from the 2G carb rebuild or the timing set. I read somewhere else someone with a sbc 350 noticed better power uphill after changing a timing set that had a lot of slack.

Thanks everyone that helped me with great advice/guidance!

 

Congrats for all that.
You have reached the "holy grail" of being satisfied with your wheels [so far ]

You also did the best thing by asking for advice instead of jumping in "blind"
Keep it up!!

 

Thanks for all the great advice!

 

You've obviously learned a lot through this whole process.
Now, enjoy the drive!

 

I was for most of it then this guy almost side-swiped me because he didn't stop at a stop sign and it put me on edge all the way back home! Hope to enjoy the next drive more though!

 

Job well done on the pickup......Proud as pudding for your effort and success.......You gotta be aware of drivers out there...I always put my super driving powers on high alert these days....

 

Memo from truck:

I'd like to do a lot more than 150 miles per year. Take me to other places please besides the beach. I think I'm now good for it.

 

Congrat's Brother! Time to drive and enjoy!
OH... I thought you said that truck was a rust bucket... Where I come from, that thing is cherry!!! Nice ride Man!

 

That´s how you learn and gain experience. It´s good to ask around and source information, but at the end you´ll have to get dirty, bruised and humbled to get the job done and learn something out of it. Hang in there! Good job!

 

You may want to re-torque the oil pan bolts after a couple heat/cool cycles.

 

Yep! Thanks.. already did tighten the rear a little more after the 1st bit of driving.. and had to take the drain pan bolt out and add a copper crush washer. I'll retorque after a couple cycles... (will have to take the starter out thats the only slight pain).

Thanks!