BOZO Posted February 16, 2017 Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 Building an l20b. I ordered a jap timing set and thought all was good until I went to put the cam sprocket on and found there were no marks on the sprocket to give me an idea where I am at. I would set it with a degree wheel but I do not know the valve events on a stock 1978 l20b cam. It is currently set up by which dowel it slid on best with the engine at tdc and the cam just guessed at for 10 and 2. I have searched extensively and all information just talks about the v notch (which I do not have) lining up with the cam plate mark. I have successfully built a few l series motors so I am familiar with what to do normally. I may have to order another cam sprocket. Anybody have any info to help degree in a stock l20 cam? Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted February 16, 2017 Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 Pictures of the cam sprocket? If you set the front cam lobs at 10 and 2, that gets you in the ball park. There are three holes on the sprocket, use the middle one. Do you have the old sprocket by chance? Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted February 16, 2017 Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 I would check valve lift on number 4 cylinder. The intake opens very slightly before TDC, and the exhaust closes very slightly after TDC. Quote Link to comment
BOZO Posted February 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 Pictures of the cam sprocket? If you set the front cam lobs at 10 and 2, that gets you in the ball park. There are three holes on the sprocket, use the middle one. Do you have the old sprocket by chance? Quote Link to comment
BOZO Posted February 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 Cam sprocket is currently on engine on the engine stand so it is hard to tell anything, but using my old sprocket to get things lined up is a good idea! Then I could just replace it with my new one. Sometimes the answers are so simple they just elude me. THANK YOU 3 Quote Link to comment
distributorguy Posted February 16, 2017 Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 For some reason I think intake centerline is at 109. You'll be in split overlap - intake just closed, exhaust about to open while at #1 TDC. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 16, 2017 Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 Use your old sprockets to transfer the two timing DOTs to the new sprockets. Set engine to TDC. Cam dowel in the #2 or middle hole on the cam sprocket. Count the double links between these two DOTs should be 38??? (I'll check when I get home so hold off on this, maybe 42 or something but I have it marked down) With new chain and sprockets, this is the factory L20B setting. Quote Link to comment
BOZO Posted February 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 The timing dots are there on the teeth. What's missing is the v notch on the backside that lines up with the cam retainer plate marker. I bought this timing kit just because it was from Japan so I could trust it being right. Can't tell you the brand right now because I am at work, but it was one of the more reputable brands. Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted February 16, 2017 Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 thats weird most jap made ones have the V notch. Tsubaki sold thru importrp.com could get them but I dont know where else to buy them unless buy chance. I just cked and they dont have any on importrp.com. There was a few guys on here that found the good sets. My OSK is OK has the marks but sprocket on dowl is a little loose(like hole a little to big ) If you have the 1 2 3 on the spocket you just have to go buy that and assume its good. My Hainz L series adtsun vid is on youtube if that can help 1 Quote Link to comment
distributorguy Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Its 42 links dot to dot. I was messing with that just last night. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 42 for L16/18 44 for L20B 38 for Z20/22 40 for Z24 Quote Link to comment
BOZO Posted February 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 My timing set is OSK and seems to be of good construction, even though my dowel holes are also large. I think my missing v notches are just a production mistake. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 No there are some that come this way, you're not alone. 1 Quote Link to comment
BOZO Posted February 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Also, my block has been decked .018 and my head .004 so I just can't guess at what is right. Using my old sprocket to check alignment then replacing it with my new one will solve the issue I believe. Y'all keep posting specifications on things like chain lengths and such. Every time I come across things like that, I cut and paste to my own database and it is there when I need it. Thanks to all and especially Draker for mentioning my old sprocket. Now if I can just find it. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Decking the block or head moves the sprockets closer together same as if the chain was stretched. The cure for this is to add 0.020" shims under the cam towers. This keeps the cam and crank sprockets the same distance apart... OR move the cam dowel to the next highest number on the cam sprocket. I agree it would be nice to have the little V notch. Can you transfer the old notch location to the new sprocket? Notch with as file? 1 Quote Link to comment
BOZO Posted February 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 I am a machinist by trade, I may just throw it up on a rotating head and machine all 3 V grooves in their proper location. Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 You can go to this page, go close to the bottom. Down load the Nissan L-20-B service manual. http://www.davidcmurphy.com/olddat/620tech.htm Page 12 in the manual has a cam timing diagram. From TDC, firing stroke, Exhaust opens 54 degrees before BDC. Intake opens 6 degrees before TDC. Exhaust closes 14 degrees after TDC. Intake closes 52 degrees after BDC. Quote Link to comment
distributorguy Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Set it to "3" to get as close as possible - compensating for machining. It'll run better overall with a 9 degree intake centerline. More torque. Quote Link to comment
BOZO Posted February 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Daniel C thank you for the info. With this info I can check that it is right after I dial it in using the old sprocket. Quote Link to comment
BOZO Posted February 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Distributorguy...Yeah, I will be dialing it in for torque because this truck will be used as it should be. As a truck. IMO Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Silver seal.com has cam tower shims. I think partsgeek.com had them also .015 shims all L20s were set to #2 on cam sprocket. you can take a old sprocket line it up and do a basic notch in back of the new sprocket so you can see thru the Open hole. Quote Link to comment
BOZO Posted February 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 After digging up my old sprocket, it is obvious where the notches go. They are lined up with the dowel pin holes. Quote Link to comment
BOZO Posted February 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 Concerning cam tower shims, at the moment, my chain guide has plenty of adjustment and the tensioner is where it should be. Also my wipe patterns on my rocker arms are correct. My head was not warped. I only had material removed from the head to give me a good sealing surface. If the cam does not time out correctly with the standard sprocket, my next step will be to obtain an aftermarket sprocket with more adjustment. Quote Link to comment
Doctor510 Posted February 18, 2017 Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 Do the shim thing the right way. Stock head thickness is 4.250". Measure yours and subtract, the difference is what you will need for shims. Shims are not the deciding factor in the chain tensioner, it is to keep the cam/crank centers where they should be. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 18, 2017 Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 Each hole is 4 degrees, or about half a tooth of adjustment on the cam. The deciding factor is the position of the V notch under the horizontal etch line on the cam thrust plate. As long is it is under, or slightly to the right as viewed from the front you are correctly timed. Period. Set this up and check the V location. It's easier to move to the #3 hole than shimming the cam which may mess with the wipe pattern. Most likely with new chain and sprockets it will be fine as it is on the #2 1 Quote Link to comment
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