Cam Timming valve lash Help Please.

[Wheezie]

Hi ya'll,
Newbie here, but not to the machine.

I have an L20B (In profile pic) that "Had" a poor comp check.

Story: I bought the truck an it ran fine.
Tore it down to the frame to make it pretty.
When I took the valve cover off i noticed the cam seemed 1 tooth off and the distributor "Was" 180 off.
I don't remember if A or R, so I put it where I thought it should go (Cam pin aligned w/journal - mark ).
When I turnned the key it didn't want to start, so I check the comp and #1 was 115, #2 -75, #3 - 90, #4- 95.
Checked the valve lash and "ALL" were tight so I adjusted cold .008 & .010.

I couldn't loosen #3 enough to get the feeler in with Adjuster ran down tight.

It will start now but is like putting my foot in a bucket of water before I get RPM and I haven't done another comp-C yet.

My Q is this:

My cam chain gear has no v mark or anything "Anywhere".
I also noticed it is using hole #1 (Far right out of the 3 on cam).
With crank pully mark on 0.

Is lining the cam pin up with the journal dash mark ok?
And will advancing the cam give it more compression or lessen it?

 

 

[datzenmike]

L20Bs came from the factory on the #2 hole so I would start buy setting it back to that first.

 

Not being able to adjust the valve lash could mean the valves have worn down onto the seat and are now up too high on the spring end. Perhaps a thinner lock nut would allow the post to go deeper to get your clearance? Otherwise a valve job or find a replacement W58 head.

 

The distributor can face any direction really as long as you can get the timing adjusted properly. Setting it where you think it should go isn't nearly going to do. Have it timed or for the price of having this done get your own timing light. The firing order is 1 3 4 2 counter clockwise on the distributor cap.

[ggzilla]

will advancing the cam give it more compression or lessen it?

the same compression. Retarding it will shift power band to higher rpm.

[Wheezie]

Thank you.

I dropped the oil pump and reset the dist. so my spark plug wires look nice. I do have a timming light and will adjust as necassary.
I know they like 20° to 38° BTDC.

My cam chain gear has no v mark (Timing mark) Arrow or anything "Anywhere".

So I aligned the Cam pin  w/Cam journal retainer - mark.
 

Is this correct for cam timming @ 0° TDC #1?

[ggzilla]

20 to 38 degrees? What will you set it to? Set initial timing to 12 degress now before starting the engine.

[Angelripper510]

Standard L20b timing should be 16BTDC with the vacuum line off.

[dr.feltersnatch]

agreed set it to 12 degrees with vacuum advance disconnected.

[ggzilla]

Standard L20b timing should be 16BTDC with the vacuum line off.

That depends on the exact distributor fitted. Most L20B in USA have more mechanical advance than AUS spec, so require less initial advance.