Just purchaced a new engine for my duster it is 30 over balanced and blue printed,cam and all. I am wondering about how to check the degree of the cam? The engine has been sitting for about 4 year and the guy i bout it from said that he had set it strait up, but i would like to check for my self and find the actual degree to set to!
Thanks for any help.

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Even in moderation i am excessive!

You'll need a degree wheel, a TDC stop, a dial gauge, and a pointer of some sort (I use a cut coat hanger). Look on Comp cams web site, they have instructions on how to do it. Comp also sells a kit that has all the needed parts, maybe easier/cheaper then trying to piece meal it together like I did. Did you get the cam card to the cam when you bought the engine? You'll need it.

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70 Dart, 360, 727

I have the cam card and it is a john(guess) De Long cam. The card is hard to read, He used a felt pen and it has run! 425 lift is the most i can read. He also wants the valve clearance at in.016 ex.018. it gives no duration. 4 years im supprised i can still read it! I have every reason to believe that this engine is right but would like to know for my self.

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Even in moderation i am excessive!

Is the head on the engine or is it still in "short block" form?
There are ways to check the cam's position by looking at the valve overlap event at TDC exhaust stroke.
DD

It is in short block form right now still cleaning and painting. Ill check the cam once i get the head on, speaking of the head it has been rebuilt with new stock valves and springs, if i have over sized valves put in can i reuse the seals? This head has never been run.

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Even in moderation i am excessive!

Seals are cheap, I would just replace them.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

If you're going to degree the cam, do it BEFORE you put the head on. Its a whole lot easier and more accurate that way because you can work right near TDC with a dial indicator, rather than measuring way off to either side of TDC with a piston stop.

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Thank you, the dial indicator had never occured to me. The head is being sent out to get over sized valve and have the seats cut and everything polished up so ill have plenty of time to degree the cam. Thanks for the help!

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Even in moderation i am excessive!