Thread: True TDC

Hey guys.

Well my time to install my N1's is growing ever closer, while I plan to use Greg's write-up as my primary rulebook. I wanted to ask a question which might seem silly to many of you who know what you are talking about, but I figure its worth a shot.

I have a buddy who is a motorcycle mechanic, he is into honda's and has built and re-built many heads in his days. When I mentioned to him that I was doing cams, he started telling me about finding "True TDC".

So this is my question (Save all your Honda guy Bullsh*t thxs). Is this "True TDC" really something to try and get? He mentioned using a modified spark plug tool to find true tdc on cyl #1 and then of coarse install the cams. He said most stock TDC's, can be a bit off, and this can help with a few whp.

True? Not True? How accurate is our method of eying the crank pulley and watching for the exhaust cam to be 12oclock. I figure that the new cams can only go in at tdc, so it comes down to is that point where the crank pulley shows 0deg truly accurate. Anyone ever heard of this or should I just follow the instructions and not worry about my extra 2whp

Appreciate the time guys.

Dudeman

wouldnt it only matter that youre at TDC so none of the valves are being compressed?

cams have the dowel pin on them so that you cant really screw it up unless you put it in the wrong hole. only issue i could see as far as timing or losing/gaining power would be if the chain skipped a tooth.

Makes sense to me. Keep in mind he is used to dealing with timing belts too, so I don't know if that would make a difference. I know he must have had some experience behind what he said, passably related to a motorcycle engine?

Dudeman

could be the timing belt idea. seems like it would be easier for the belt to slip over one notch than our chains. belts are still rubber and often want to spring back to their original shape so if there's even the sligtest bit of slack i could see where that could go wrong.

Give me a call on this , I have a fool proof way to do this.

Its called cam 101 for dumbies. Anyone can do it even if you have never worked on a car before.

^^^ How about you share with the community, or is it that hard to explain?

Its to long to explain. Fool proof procedure that is diffrent from the JWT cam install guide. You dont even need tie straps.

I concur with this statement. My idioticies were spared, by Dre, when he called me at 2am one morning to assist me with my cam install problems. After he explained everything to me, and told me the "easy way", I shat myself.

Just give him a call, and it'll all make sense rather quickly.

word!. I'll will give him a call next time I do cams.
I used the JWT zip tie method with some S3's about a year ago, and it was the first time I touch cams in my life, everything came out good, I think if you follow the step by step and use an FSM you wont go wrong thou.

Ha, I was hoping you would shed some light Dre.

I am leaving for a skiing trip this weekend, and getting back around new years, so maybe the weekend before (29th-30ish). Just to give you an idea.

Thanks,

Dudeman