You can check your cam with the motor in the car. You don't need a degree wheel. You can use your balancer. You will need a piston stop, stagger tape and a dial indicator with a magnetic base. You need to remove all the spark plugs and the driver side rocker shaft. Assuming it is a hydraulic flat tappet? It's not as handy as having the motor out of the car but It is doable. If you find it to be way off then you can decide how you want to fix it from there.