460 timing chain

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Mar 16, 2008 | 04:23 AM

alie-r

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From: in the netherlands

460 timing chain

hello

i have a '78 460 with the earlier heads on it.
with a crane cam powermax hydraulic camshaft.
and a edelbrock true rolling timing chain with three keyways.
i can retard 4 degrees and advance 4 degrees.
when do i have the most power for normal use?
did it have any affect on the mileage?
did it chance the exhaust noise?

andre

Mar 16, 2008 | 04:40 AM

Dirt racer

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From: Minnesota

It depends on what cam you have. Those keyways are for setting up timing chain to match your cam. I would call crane and ask them. Most camshafts are already set up with advance or retard built in and you use the OEM factory setting. When I built my 429 I called and got the centerline spec for the cam I was using and you have to use a degree wheel, that they sell in Jegs or Summit racing and other places, to check the motor and see where to set the timing. Every motor is a little different. If you are not sure I think it would be best to use the middle setting.

Mar 16, 2008 | 04:52 AM

alie-r

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From: in the netherlands

is there a differece between the earlier and late 460 about the timing?
did the earlier engines have more horsepower than the late's?

andre

Mar 16, 2008 | 02:12 PM

Dirt racer

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From: Minnesota

Yes the small timing gear is different. The newer ones where more advanced. I think it has to do with emisions. I bought a performance cam for a 460 I had in my truck and it called for using the older retarded small gear. My suggestion is to match your motor timing to the cam and use an aftermarket distributer or a timing curve kit. It's best to have good idle and then have more overall timing for better power. The one I have on my truck is crane cams adjustable vacuum advance kit part # 99607-1. It comes with different centrifugal springs and adjustable vacuum advance with instructions. It helped a lot, it use to dog a little mid range, but I wished I would have spent the money on a good ditributer instead.

Mar 16, 2008 | 03:27 PM

alie-r

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From: in the netherlands

thanks for the replay
i run the engine on propane.
i have the vacuum advance kit in the distributor (the two thin springs)
i have the timing chain on the middle setting.
than i have the best setting for mileage/horsepower?

andre

Mar 16, 2008 | 03:53 PM

mark a.

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To just blindly advance or retard a cam is like taking a shot in the dark, get it degreed in to the cam cards specs.

Mar 16, 2008 | 04:45 PM

Dirt racer

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Joined: Dec 2007

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From: Minnesota

I don't know the best setup for propane. If you don't have the centerline spec for your cam I would call crane cams and ask them. Here is a # I have 904-258-6174. Not sure if its still good. I would tell them that you are running propane. I think you are on the right track though.

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Mar 18, 2008 | 01:52 AM

Dirt racer

Laughing Gas

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From: Minnesota

I don't see a centerline, I think that is what it is called. I did mine 3 years ago with my brother who builds race car motors. I used a Federal Mogul camshaft. I had a spec sheet like yours, but had to call them for the centerline # to set it up with the degree wheel. I think it was like 104 or 108. I ended up using the retarded setting on my timing chain but as I said before every motor and cam is different. You have to turn the motor back and forth with the degree wheel on it see when certain valves start to open. I pretty sure the directions come with the wheel. I would talk to crane cams they might be able to give you more info.

Mar 26, 2008 | 12:17 AM

#10

AerostarDad

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From: B.C.Canada, EH?

Quote:

Originally Posted by alie-r

these are the cam specs.

andre

Go down to the "Cam Timing" section and over to the "Max Lift" reading. Add the 107* intake to the 117* exhaust, and divide by 2. That gives you your cam's centerline, in this case, 107+117=224, /2 = 112*.

You want the chain setup for the early motors. The straight-up setting ,on the small bottom gear, will have the "0" mark directly underneath a tooth. This gives no added advance or retard. If the "0" mark is not directly under a tooth, you have the retarded setup for the newer motors.