What's wrong with my motor?

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Been there, done that... I’ve got a destroyed short block to show for it!
 
a person asked if cam bearings are in correct position. old ones and a cam problem can twist cam bearings . and any u try cam and lifters will not oil. ck means take apart and look. cam bearings r the last as a suspect. u build any motor I me I do it correctly. cam bearings positioned correctly. may shave bearings to make loose don't shave if u don't know how a track race thing. but ck oil holes on cam bearings . point a raced motor twistes cam bearings can slide off oil holes. ck then go oil pump.
 
PRH said:
Glad you cleared it up!!

Let me guess....... crank key straight up..... top gear dot straight down.
Click to expand...

Yep.

Explanation here - Finally found my problem...warning to all.

Here is the picture I never uploaded. Sorry it is fuzzy, might have been why I didn't follow through. Note the dot to the right next to the teeth.

Parts 153.jpg
 
A lesson in why you should always degree the cam.

Installed like whats in the pic, the cam is advanced about 35*(2.5 teeth).

It’s not an uncommon occurance.
 
jos51700 said:
wuh-wait?


You're supposed to time to that wee dot, that's barely visible? Or you timed to that and you were supposed to time to the big monster dot?
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Yes, I was supposed to use the small dot. It wasn't all that invisible, I just overlooked it because the zero was so large. Wish I would claim that I was at least drinking, but I know I wasn't.

Just for reference, here is how it looked when I put it back together:
DusterMotor 001.jpg
 
PRH said:
A lesson in why you should always degree the cam.

Installed like whats in the pic, the cam is advanced about 35*(2.5 teeth).

It’s not an uncommon occurance.
Click to expand...

I was going to just rate your post as "Agree", but I don't have the experience to say this is not uncommon. I agree with the rest, though.

:lol:

Ah well, water under the bridge. Car has been running for the better part of 8 years now (for the most part).
 
DionR said:
Sure hope not...
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I bought my motor as an assembled short block and heads. Heads were fresh and the short block checked out Ok. Took the t-chain off (but can't remember why lol) but I put it back on similarly to what's described here. Didn't degree the cam because it was stock and I don't have the timing specs. All I know is the motor came out of a 1990 Durango or truck (roller cammed 360 LA). If I did put the chain on wrong I hope the cam is so mild that the valves haven't hit the pistons as I just got it running! Did a compression test before. I'll have to do one again and compare the results.
 
DionR said:
Yes, I was supposed to use the small dot. It wasn't all that invisible, I just overlooked it because the zero was so large. Wish I would claim that I was at least drinking, but I know I wasn't.

Just for reference, here is how it looked when I put it back together:
View attachment 1715351204
Click to expand...
Man this is an awesome learning tool! This should be a sticky thread!! Thanks for sharing!!
 
I did the exact same thing as you, OP. I drove my car and knew it was way down on power. Ended up snapping off and intake valve and destroying a piston, bent some rods, scored the cylinder wall, tore up my new edelbrock heads, etc. I had built the engine myself and it ran great, went 12.80's in the 1/4 with iron heads. I swapped to edelbrock's and a bigger cam and totally screwed up the timing.
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This is some priceless info for a newbie like me! I'm rebuilding my first engine now. Well first full rebuild I have refreshed quite a few but never a full tear down machine work fresh from the ground up!
 
DionR said:
Yes, I was supposed to use the small dot. It wasn't all that invisible, I just overlooked it because the zero was so large. Wish I would claim that I was at least drinking, but I know I wasn't.

Just for reference, here is how it looked when I put it back together:
View attachment 1715351204
Click to expand...
I never would have known, and probably have the cam in wrong in my car now.
 
You know come to think about it I built a 318 years ago that I put in my barracuda. It was a stock bottom end 67 318 that I put 360 heads , stock 2bbl 360 cam new timing chain new gaskets and it was absolutely weak as pond water. I always thought that it was because of the low compression caused by the 360 heads now I'm wondering if I didnt do this too! That engine is long gone but i bet I did this and never knew it!!
 
I was one of those who never knew how to degree a cam. I bought a degree kit off of Summit in which comes with instructions on how to degree. Watched a bunch of videos on Youtube and then went at it. It's not that hard really.
 
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