So cyl #1 and #6 are at the top at the same time right? Is that why you have to set the timing on the #1 compression stroke? If that is true wouldn't the timing marks on the gears have to line up at 6 o'clock on the cam and 12 o'clock on the crank when your on TDC of the compression on cyl #1? I'm new to the sbf world so I'm still learning...

 

There are two moments when any piston in a 4 stroke engine reaches TDC, the compression stroke and the exhaust stroke. It's sort of arbitrary, they choose a cylinder as the #1 and then everything is zeroed or based off of that - the distributor and marks on the vibration absorber.

 

Yes of course.

OK then.. are you aware that Cyl #1 is passenger side front and cylinders are numbered 1-4 front to back on the pass side and 5-8 front to back on the drivers side.

 

yes I'm aware of that. I know the basics of them. I know a lot about sbc it just seems as if sbf is world's different. It really seems as if the cam shaft is upside down if that's even possible. I'll hopefully be able to dig into it a little more tomorrow

 

The marks on the cam gear can either be at 6 or 12 o'clock, as the crank gear spins at twice the speed of the cam gear. The relation between #1 and 6 have nothing to do with setting the timing in the cam.

 

The firing order of a SBC is the same as the old 302 order, only the cylinders are numbered differently. The distributor rotation may be different depending on what side of the cam it's located on vs a SBF. The recent revelation you Chevy guys had with 4-7 cam swap was learned long ago by Ford when they came out with the 351W firing order. Again, it's the same as the 4/7 Chevy swap.