97 454 L29 build plans

[Papablunt]

found a garage in Monument, actually two, that can set the +/- 2* cam retard when I get to that

I misread your post after a long day of work. I can actually help you with the cam retard if your other guy ends up falling through.

I used Torque pro with the correct PID, and it worked great. I got mine dialed in to +1.8

The issue is there is very little adjustment room before the dist hits the intake manifold.

For what it's worth, I've heard if you swap the cam gear on the distributor 180* you can dial it into 0.0. Personally, I say as long as it's within spec, you're golden.

 

[Supercharged111]

I misread your post after a long day of work. I can actually help you with the cam retard if your other guy ends up falling through.

I used Torque pro with the correct PID, and it worked great. I got mine dialed in to +1.8

The issue is there is very little adjustment room before the dist hits the intake manifold.

For what it's worth, I've heard if you swap the cam gear on the distributor 180* you can dial it into 0.0. Personally, I say as long as it's within spec, you're golden.

A worn timing chain also makes it a nightmare to dial in CMPRET.

 

[Papablunt]

A worn timing chain also makes it a nightmare to dial in CMPRET.

Very true.

@Piratehunter what timing setup are you going with? I opted for a single roller setup, but hear good things about the double roller.

 

[Piratehunter]

@Papablunt thanks for the offer to help with the dizzy setting, most likely take you up on it, as it may take a couple of weeks to get on the shop’s schedule when I’m ready.

there are several threads in here with reports of needing to re-pin the dizzy gear 180*. I checked the clearance before I took everything apart, it is tight, little margin for adjustment. I took several alignment pictures at TDC for #1 and plan to pre-fit it on the engine stand to see how it lines up. I have a new dizzy assembly and will check tomorrow how it compares to the factory one for gear pinning.

as for the timing set, I got the comp cams 3149KT set per recommendation of the tech at comp cams, adjustable double roller, but I now see that it is not for factory fuel injection. Will have to call them on that, which takes for ever to get through. If that is the case, I’ll get the GM perf set.

 

[Piratehunter]

I compared the new United Motor 9361 billet distributor gear alignment to the factory and it looks to be pinned the same in relation to the gear teeth. Some folks have noted that they could see a clear misalignment by 1/2 a gear tooth, probably about .030. Probably mass production tolerance error. So hope all is well on this one. The new hold down clamp hole is too small and the clamp width only allows a few degree rotation, this has been noted as a problem for other folks. Will use the original hold down clamp.

Will talk to Comp tomorrow on the timing set. They list it as double roller and adjustable to fit the gen VI roller cam. they note it is not for FI systems. it sure looks like a single roller in the package to me. I can return it to Amazon less a restocking fee. The GM Performance set is pretty much a slight upgrade of the stock one, but not adjustable.

 

[Piratehunter]

Talked to Comp Cams today. The 3149KT adjustable timing set will not work for the 454 Gen VI with MPFI, neither will the 7101 double roller.

No really trick options for this if retaining factory MPFI and ignition.

Cloyes and Melling have single roller replacements. I'll get the GM Performance part # 12371053, direct factory replacement.

 

[Schurkey]

12371053

I used that timing set on my boat 454. That block had the main saddles line-bored. The timing chain had more slack than I really wanted.

I hear similar complaints from other folks.

Let me know how it fits your block.

 

[Papablunt]

Sealed Power KT34SR50 is what I used. It had "GM" stamped on the gears.

The chain in my kit also had a bit more slack than I would have expected.

 

[yevgenievich]

I used Cloyes Gear C-3213 on mine

 

[Piratehunter]

What have you guys used or done to remove the paint from the aluminum valve covers? Mine are blistered where the egr plumbing was and I wanted to get them powder coated black Going to use the chevy red/orange on the rest of the iron parts of the block.