[slow3oh]

as many of you know i am doing a top end rebuild on my novas engine. I will be replacing the intake carb heads distrib and camshaft on this motor. I am doing this on a VERY limited budget and ill probably have 250 to play around with when all my parts i need are bought. and thats probably going to a new rad. so i dont have enough to pay somebody to assemble it for me.

I do not know anybody who can really help. There is a mechanic at my shop who might throw me some pointers but i doubt he will be willing to help me out on it.

so. can i do it myself. Ill probably have acess to a shop and stuff so tools are mostly covered. I have all the torque specs on everything as well. only thing i am worried about is the camshaft. How do you know when it is at the correct spot on the motor? do i have to set the motor at TDC? any other important things i have to do internally?? I am replacing the distrib...i dont just set it in there correct??

comments apprieciated!!

thanks!

 

[62civa]

You did not mention if you are doing this work while the engine is in the car. In either case, you will have top drop the oil pan in order to remove the timing chain cover. (that is not an easy job with the engine in the car!) Once you have the timing cover off, the carb, intake and heads off, rotate the engine until the #1 piston (driver's side front) is at top dead center. Take a look at the front of the timing spokets. There is a dot (indentation) machined into each gear. These have to be lined up with each other. (crank shaft gear with dot at 12:00 position, cam sproket with dor at 6:00 position) If the dots are not in these positions, turn the engine over one full turn and they should now be lined up.

When you get to installing your new cam, make sure the #1 pistion is at the top of its bore and make sure these dots are lined up and your cam will be installed correctly. I would highly recomend you buy a book like :How to Rebuild your Small Block Chevy" by David Vizard. It covers everything you will ever need to know to do the job you are trying to accomplish. Don't be afraid to post questions as you go, there are some serious engine experts here. I would start with a good book though.
Ron

 

[batman09]

YES...You can do it youself...>>>I/we will help you out!!you need to get the #1 cylinder on tdc on the compression stroke before you pull the distributor.Here are some videos for you to watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkisvkqS-W0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNDxopB7OTY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjpIIuHNrzI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89o5rLpbCgI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AFyb4CAGxg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ixfDRbAr2E
Look on youtube for lots more...they are called box wrench
also you need to buy This book...very important
http://cgi.ebay.com/How-To-Rebuild-...trkparms=65:12|66:2|39:1|72:1205|293:1|294:50

 

[Paul Wright]

It's a common misconception that the cam dots both line up at TDC compression. It's true on a Ford but not Chevy.

If you put the engine at TDC compression and then install the camshaft so the dots line up, the distributor will be 180 out if you put it back in the same. On a small block Chevy the dots line up at #1 Exhaust and #6 compression.
The distributor doesn't fire at TDC so it's better to mark the cap/rotor position with the distributor set at base timing.

I agree you need to buy some books on the subject and study them closely.

 

[62civa]

It's a common misconception that the cam dots both line up at TDC compression. It's true on a Ford but not Chevy.

If you put the engine at TDC compression and then install the camshaft so the dots line up, the distributor will be 180 out if you put it back in the same. On a small block Chevy the dots line up at #1 Exhaust and #6 compression.
The distributor doesn't fire at TDC so it's better to mark the cap/rotor position with the distributor set at base timing.

I agree you need to buy some books on the subject and study them closely.

Hey Paul,
Thanks for clarifing that for me. I guess I have been wrong for 30 years
I guess I never thought about it as I just lined up the dots to get the cam in correctly and then ended up turning the engine over by hand several tiems as I ran the valve adjustments. Then I set it to TDC and dropped in the distributor.
I learn something everytime I'm hear at Steves. Thanks Pual.
Ron

 

[6NOVA4]

Where is morro bay?

 

[chuckha62]

Where is morro bay?

Central Coast of CA. Near San Luis Obispo