Hot Rod Farmer: What you need to know about cylinder head service.

2 Comments

• Gary Harrier says:

  March 25, 2020 at 9:49 am

  On the Tool Box Test #5, question 3, I would think answer D could work providing the gear on the distributor and the mating gear on the cam shaft aren’t worn.

  Couldn’t you rotate the crankshaft back a couple turns and stop on TDC, then with a dial indicator on any of the rocker arms that are compressed, turn the crank shaft in direction of rotation and take a reading on the timing marks when the rocker arm starts to move?

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  • Ray Bohacz says:

    March 25, 2020 at 11:09 am

    Hi!

    Thanks so much for listening and contacting me with your thoughts.

    I do not see why the method you described would not work, but it is more obtrusive than watching the distributor rotor.

    BUT… to your point, if it were an newer engine such as a GM LS series or Chrysler Hemi or even years from now the new pushrod Ford 7.3, there would be no distributor rotor to watch for movement, so you would need to go under the valve cover.

    I try to write the tests so that the reader thinks and once they do, there is only one clear answer. If I did it any other way, I feel (but I may be wrong) that it would become confusing. Since the questions I use on the show are from the tests on my website, I stick to reading it.

    I greatly appreciate your listening to my show and sharing your knowledge with me. I will try (that is the operative word!) to mention your thoughts on next week’s show since you bring up an excellent point.

    Thanks so much. I hope all is well where you are.

    Have a blessed day,

    Ray

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