puting my 352 back together

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Dec 30, 2011 | 09:20 AM

BPB

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puting my 352 back together

how do I set up the timing chain properly, I have searched and cant find it. also I have two different exhaust gaskets one is thin metal that I bought a while ago, I also have the thicker metallic ones that came with my engine kit, which ones are better?...... one more, what do I need to know about valve seals?

Dec 30, 2011 | 10:08 AM

BPB

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my fear with the timing gear is that it is in the wrong rotation because my friend spun the cam, I know that on my jeep I had to have #1 at top dead center on the compression stroke.

Dec 30, 2011 | 05:04 PM

OldHarley

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From: Dallas, Texas

If you are doing a static assembly of the 352 V8, the upper cam sprocket has a notch and the lower crankshaft sprocket has a dot that need to be aligned so they are positioned closest together, ie: upper notch at 6 o'clock and lower dot at 12 o'clock.

That being said, I am not sure that this is what you are asking. If you really meant that your friend removed the distributor and cranked the engine, as is suggested by your second post, then you may just be asking about timing the engine.

If so, then you are right and setting the timing would be the same as your Jeep.

Dec 30, 2011 | 07:38 PM

spurredon

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From: Upstate NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPB

my fear with the timing gear is that it is in the wrong rotation because my friend spun the cam, I know that on my jeep I had to have #1 at top dead center on the compression stroke.

How far down did you take the engine? Didn't you have the cam out of the block anyway to clean it? Like OldHarley said, just put the gears on with the keys in the shafts. There is only one way they will fit together. Have the dots on the edge of the gears next to each other. This is easiest if you lay the gears out on the bech in the way they need to go and put the chain around them. Then as an assembly, put both of the gears on the cam and crank shafts. You will have to rotate the shafts to get the keys in the right place to line up with the keyways in the gears.

Are you working with any type of manual? The Ford manual for your truck takes a lot of guess work out of it. Guessing is not always nice when it comes to engine assembly.

Dec 30, 2011 | 09:16 PM

BPB

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Ok, I guess that my confusion with the timing gear had to do with how simple these older motors are. When doing the timing chain on my computerized jeep I had to have the crank on the proper rotation relative to the cam I'm guessing because of the cam and crank position sensors.
I never had the crank out, although i do have it loose for doing the rear main seal, which brings up another question. How can I be sure that I have the entire rope seal out from behind the crank with out seeing it?

Dec 31, 2011 | 01:36 AM

garbz2

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From: Glendale Arizona

Engine must be on number one TDC on the compression stroke to install the chain correctly.

Cam is positioned with the dowel to the top.

If this procedure is not followed the engine can be 90/180/270 degrees out. Remember the cam turns one time for every four rotations of the crank.

Use a nylon Zip tie cut on an angle to run around the crank to make sure you have all the old seal out. With the FE's deep set crank rear mains are a bear.

Garbz

Dec 31, 2011 | 07:23 AM

markzieglerinsd

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From: Watertown

Garbz, don't you mean on revolution of the cam to 2 revolutions of the crank. There are 4 distinct cycles intake, compression, power, exhaust. intake and compression are in one revolution of the crank and power and exhaust are in the second revolution of the crank. If you count the teeth on a crank and cam sprocket/gear you will find that there are 1/2 the teeth on a cam gear then on a crank gear for a gear ratio of 1/2.

Mark.