Hi everyone,

I have a 180BSSS rally car with a fresh L18 and was wondering how to set the cam timing. The engine was built about 18months ago and has done around 1000km. The car's been in storage for about a year as I've been building my road car. When the motor was built I was told that I'd have to reset the cam at about 1000km as the chain will have stretched slightly. (I'm running a verneer camwheel on it as well.) Between 800 and 1000 km, the motor ran progressively worse and I'm assuming that this is due to the cam timing being out of whack. My knowledge of engine internals is pretty minimal (it's pretty much the one thing that I've always left to the pro's in the past)

So, how do i go about setting the cam timing?

Thanks in advance...

What cam is it? You you have the cam card that came with it? You will need to know this stuff. YOu will also need a dial indicator a degree wheel and a way to find tdc exactly and I mean exactly to do the job right. Where did you get the engine built? I would take it back there if your unsure and get them to setit up for you. A mistake coiuld be an expensive one. Check this link out for more info

http://www.datsport.com/Racer_Brown_Menu.html

It will tell you every thing you need to know about L series engines and cams.

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1928 Model A CC Pickup

Not entirely sure what cam it is (maybe a 72 or 74 deg?), It was installed by the guy at datsun performance workshop in Melb. He just told me it would suit my SU's as it'd be good for midrange power. Didn't give me a card with it, never even mentioned it.

The engine was build at the 1600 workshop and John Boshua did some work on the head.

I'd take it back to them but the car's up at my family's farm, is bearly running, not registered anymore and I don't have a tandem trailer (I could hire one, but me'h).

I think I'll look into buying hte correct tools and giving it a go myself.

Good link btw.

Call datsun performance and get the specs for the cam of them. They will still have it. Or speak to john and see if he can remember what cam it was. Any dood from a work shop can set it up for you. They just need the right specs for the crank to cam degrees. Maybe speak to Baz on this site for so tips/help. He is one on the Datsun Kings.

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1928 Model A CC Pickup

A general rule of thumb to start with if you don't have specs on a cam is to set the cam timing so that both valves are at the same lift at TDC on compression stroke. This effectively "centres" the overlap at TDC and is a good starting point.

You do need two dial gauges to do it though

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1971 Datsun P510 SR20DET 276 rwkW
2005 Mercedes AMG E55 350 kW
1969 Datsun P510 L20B EFI 95 rwkW
1975 Ford XB Fairmont GS Wagon 179rwhp
1980 Escort Van SR20DET unfinished
2002 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa 185hp

Yep nice one Turbovan

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1928 Model A CC Pickup

Do new timing chains stretch enough to result in a car "barely running"?

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http://www.capitalsteering.com.au - Steering you in the right direction
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Good call dazda. Maybe it was not setup corectly in the first place. Chain guides could be in the wrong position or tension arm worn? I guess its hard to tell will out pulling the timming case and sump off though. What a shitty job.

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1928 Model A CC Pickup

Dont you need to measure the lift (or the valves at the rock point) on number 4 set, not one to get CAM timing for TDC on N0.1 - then u can it least visually see the standard marks.

I kind of like the idea of then marking the third cam tower and CAM with a line so I can easily check for next time.

http://www.ozdat.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... ight=notch

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A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
www.datsport.com

"R.I.P. Baz. 29 April 2022. Thank you for all your contributions to the Datsun community over the years. You will be missed." - OZDAT

Cheers Baz.

I probablyu should have mentioned earlier but my cam's a regrind. Does this mean I can set it as you explained in that link or is it classed as a performance cam?

I'm beginning to think I might just have to bite the bullet, hire a trailer, bring the car back to Melbourne and get a pro to look at it.