Searched it but didnt get my peace of mind.

Ok have a 451 installed the mopar .509 108 degree cam.I am at the stage of setting it up i am advancing this cam 4 degrees.I have my indicator on the #1 intake retainer.The heads are on because i am a scatter brain .
I set my degree wheel by watching the piston through the plug hole.I brought it up,let it swing just till movement,then reversed it and slit the difference.
I set TDC to pointer,turned clockwise till max vlave opening measuring on the retainer.Then i zeroed the indicator.Backed off .75 then forward (clockwise) to 50 before max lift.I get a reading of 75.

Problem is i go on to .50 after max lift my number is to small to get a addition to make the divide by 2.I end up in the 90's or if i measure the other way from TDC i get to large a number putting it in the 130's.

I am sure the procedure to 75 egrees is right but after that it goes to shiii,what in gods name am i doing wrong?I did this 5 years ago didnt remember a problem??

I have one of those cheap Mr Gasket wheels 0-90-0 reading type.Is everything always measured in a clockwise manner?

The sencond reading after .50 before for .50 after doesnt roll around enough to get proper numbers.Example first seems steady at 74 and the roll around to .50 after isnt a big enough number to add up and split~

Also it has a 3 position crank sprocket,the 0 is to the left of the key.I installed straight up with the copper colored bushing in cam gear with the offset to the right?Meaning in a clockwise rotation the the skilly part of the bushing is on the right side of pin???

Garage is 110 degrees i do know that please help me out,i have a full head of hair but starting to get a little po'ed!

You have to have a positve stop to properly get 0 on your degree wheel.
piston can be at tdc for up to 10 deg of crankshaft rotation!

You have to have a solid lifter to degree the cam.

You can make a positive stop that screws into the spark plug hole with an old spark plug! Break the porcelin out of it, tap it for a bolt that fits the tap. Get a long threaded rod and srew it thru the plug and a lock nut.
Turn the crank so the piston is down some, install the special tool you just made and slowly turn the crank until it touches. Mark the degree wheel, then turn the motor the other way and repeat. Split the difference and it will br TDC.
DON"T FORGET to remove the tool!

rap a little black tap on the end so you don't mark your pistons

go to a bigger number as 1.5 rocker add 1.5 times to lobe lift so .100 will be better.

you should get numbers like 64 and 144 I assume 90 + next 54 will be 144

so 64 + 144 = 208/2 = 104 centerline right where you want to be

course could be 73 and 135 (again I assume 90 then on next 90 45)

and so on.

I like to but lock nuts on my tool so I can lock it into place

Hear is one of my tools I have two or three made.
http://s542.photobucket.com/albums/gg408/dodgeboy8/?action=view&current=pistonstop.jpg

I like this method below always a solid lifter

http://s542.photobucket.com/albums/gg408/dodgeboy8/?action=view&current=new2.jpg

So maybe thats the screw up,well i do have a solid lifter.I gutted a old one,put a bolt and a nut in it that is right at same height as a cup in lifter,ball end even fits like its in the cup.

Well i guess ill make the positive stop with the plug that must be the problem.Thanks

Oh thanks for the pics.Is it ok to check all this using the retainer?I cant get my dial to stay on the lifter edge

stuff visual help is better!
http://www.stockcarracing.com/techarticles/scrp_0607_how_to_degree_a_camshaft/index.html

http://www.carcraft.com/howto/116_0701_how_to_degree_a_camshaft/index.html

I hugging my air conditioner! LOL I have one in the garage too if i get my car back to work on!! heat index is only 95 and thats too hot!

Im done for today 120 heat index but how far do you have the bolt sticking into the cylinder?

keep screwing it in till it stops rotation thats enough. I like it on compression stroke so the valves are closed and out of the way??

The big thing is that it stops the rotation both ways at the same place before and after TDC 1/2 way in between is true TDC!!!