How To Set Cam Timing On Chevy 350

How to Install a Chevy 350 Timing Concatenation

by Moss Strohem

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The timing concatenation on a Chevrolet 350 engine (also known equally the 350 SBC, for small block Chevy) rotates the camshaft in synchronization to the crankshaft rotation. Afterward years of service (or tens of thousands of miles of use) timing bondage tin stretch. This can affect the functioning of the engine. Additionally, the camshaft gear can wear. (Older cam sprockets were made with nylon teeth for quieter operation and would neglect, rendering the engine inoperable.) As a do-it-yourself project, the replacement of these parts can take the amend office of a single day, so plan appropriately and organize the required tools and parts beforehand.

Training and Accompaniment Removal

Stride one

Order or purchase the correct timing gear up (chain and 2 sprockets) and gasket set for the engine model beingness repaired. Exist certain to specify the model year and awarding of the engine. Also include a small tube of gasket sealer in the purchase. Local parts stores typically have these items in stock and may take balancer puller and installation tools available for rent. Yous tin can also guild the parts online from parts vendors.

Footstep two

Remove the fan from the h2o pump. Next, identify and remove all drive belts and accompaniment fasteners/bolts and then you lot tin remove the water pump. These will vary from vehicle to vehicle, but examples might be steering pump, alternator or A/C brackets.

Before y'all remove the water pump, exist sure all of the h2o from the cooling system has tuckered completely. (The goal is to avoid getting whatever coolant in the engine crankcase once you've removed the timing cover.)

Tining Chain Replacement

Pace 1

Loosen and remove the water pump (four bolts attach the water pump to the front end of the engine block). Scrape and clean the gasket surfaces of each. Remove any pulleys attached to the harmonic balancer. Remove the balancer bolt and adhere the harmonic balancer puller to the front of the balancer and tighten the center bolt to pull the balancer off the crankshaft. Remove several of the front oil pan bolts and loosen the residue so that the oil pan can exist partially lowered away from the timing cover. Remove all timing comprehend bolts and gently pry the comprehend away from the engine block. Scrape and clean all gasket surfaces. Remove and replace the front crankshaft seal in the timing encompass.

Step 2

Rotate the engine by hand then that the two timing marks on both sprockets are aligned. Remove the three cam sprocket bolts and slide the cam sprocket off the camshaft. Slip the chain nether/off the crank sprocket. Install the new concatenation and camshaft sprocket, making certain both timing marks are aligned at their closest point. (Tip: Crank sprockets rarely neglect or clothing. If no harm is visible, you tin can salvage time past not replacing it.) Tighten the cam sprocket bolts to 20 pound-feet of torque.

Step 3

Apply a modest amount of gasket sealer/adhesive to the mating surfaces of the timing comprehend and engine cake. Reinstall the timing cover with 6 pound-feet of torque to each bolt. Utilise a small "dab" of silicon sealant at each cease of the oil pan seal. Supercede/tighten all the oil pan bolts. Utilize a pocket-size corporeality of oil or assembly lube to the surface of the front seal and balancer hub, then reinstall the harmonic balancer with the replacement installer/press. (Practice not reinstall the balancer with the bolt or a hammer.) Replace the balancer middle commodities using lx pound-feet of torque.

Continue to reinstall all of the components that were previously removed in reverse guild. Finally, refill the radiator coolant, start the engine and check for any coolant leaks and repair, if needed.

References

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