Bradan F355 valve job/major service

Looks great! Thanks for all the pics. That dial indicator base is pretty neat.

 

During timing, we're only interested in the change in the lift at the lifter when it is following the cam lobe. If the lifter is full of oil, the valve will go along with the ride. If the lifter has no oil, only the end of the lifter will move (spring holding it against the cam lobe), and the valve won't move right away. But that is moot - we don't want to measure the lift of the valve, we want to measure the lift at the cam lobe. So either way - lifter solid or lifter soft - the Ferrari timing method works.

 

These pics are so awesome! Keep them coming please.

 

I would like to know what that red sealant is that you used to seal the front cover, oil pan, trans, etc. Aslo, is that assembly lube between the cam seals and the housing or is it a sealant?

 

Looking good man.

 

I don't know what year Chevys you are referring to but all the small blocks I worked on back in the 60's had no provision for adjusting timing. The drive gear was keyed to the crank and not adjustable and the cam gear was dowel pinned to the cam in a fixed position with no adjustment possible. All you could do was line up the marks when putting the chain on. If that was good enough for Chevy, a lock and swap is good enough for Ferrari. There is a real need to get over this "Ferrari's are special" bull shoT that 1/4 - 1/2 degree matters.
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Of course he's talking about a modified engine with an adjustable timing set. F355 engine to a stock sbc is a comparison not even in the same universe. 5 valve heads, 8500+ rpm. As far as production engines are concerned Ferrari's are special and if you care about it running to its potential, it does matter.

 

Offset woodruff key is the answer.

 

I've posted this a few times......

If you time bank 1 with cylinder 1 and get it exact - no way would it be exact on #2,3, or 4 due to manufacturing tolerances of the components and stack up tolerances of the assembly.

For giggles, when I assemble my motor I will do this test

 

Let's not hijack this Bradan's thread with another cam timing debate. Your car, your choice.

 

Thanks. I also really appreciate you sharing all this info. I used right stuff on the cam cover during my last engine out and 2 years later, all four corners are leaking a little.

 

Ahhh the cabin fever is setting in LOL

"cam degree bushings"
Ed Isdendarian would not let me leave with my roller cam until I mastered this in front of him
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So where did those go Tim? Never installed an Isky cam. We ran a stock 62 Corvette. I don't recall the class. Used to run at Harfield, PA 1/8 mile and Vargo, also PA, 1/4. It impressed the girls when we brought home trophies. Vargo close in '69 but they still have reunion cars shows on the old strip.
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You could only do a degree or so before you run the risk of shearing the key.

 

You get a kit with a drill bit and the offsets
You drill out the 3 sprocket holes then degree the cam with the offsets. All my cams were custom grinds and used the offsets to fine tune when we changed setups. Big Block camaros in the old Gas classes, SUNDAY SUNDAY FUNNY CARS LOL

 

That kind's what I figured. So no alignment dowel on the Isy's?

The guy below is Ken Montgomery. He was sort of a mentor. Owner a gas station where I grew up. Spent a lot of free time there. He was famous for running the Triple Nickel '65 Plymouth, which they made a die cast of. I was there the day the car arrive. I understand he campaigned it almost to the day he passed, a few years back. As far as I know his son(s?) still run the station, last photo. I lost contact with him shortly after college. Which I'd stayed in touch. 2004 became an NHRA Hall of Fame member.
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