Thread: Chevette blues

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I would love to see pics of your "Vette" . I love the oddball stuff! I even joined a Facebook group called Undesired Survivors.

Thanks for the feedback, as usual I poorly worded my question.

I know how to set the timing. As the guy in the video says, it's pretty easy. My question was, (not this specific engine) is there a way to confirm the cam timing without actually tearing things apart and visually inspecting timing marks.

It seems that this is one of those diagnostic steps which doesn't have a shortcut.

Thanks

This is the cheapest I've seen. Bolt it to the front on the crank and turn the motor while reading the wheel.
this is the best shortcut I know of. and it can work for each cylinder..

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...1001?rrec=true

Originally Posted by 34_40

This is the cheapest I've seen. Bolt it to the front on the crank and turn the motor while reading the wheel.
this is the best shortcut I know of. and it can work for each cylinder..

To get accurate info wouldn't you really want the head(s) off to get true TDC and zero your degree wheel, and then to work off of lifters on the cam? I guess pulling the valve cover and working at a rocker arm is good for the cam measurements, and there are other reliable ways to find exact TDC, like the water tube method, so a guy could zero his wheel and verify/set cam timing without tearing things apart if his cam gear has provisions for adjustment. Just thinking this is most often done when installing a cam, to double check it against the cam data sheet.

It'sa Chevette! Get the marks lined up and call it good imho.. But, the guy wants some info on the cheap and it isn't like he can even gain a lot of horse power, but he wants whatever it can give. I get it. Yes, there are many ways to skin this cat, and even if you find an error, what'cha gonna do, custom grind an offset key? I doubt any/many speed parts existed and I ain't looking up a cam for a Chevette! LOL..

Originally Posted by firebird...

My question was, (not this specific engine) is there a way to confirm the cam timing without actually tearing things apart and visually inspecting timing marks.

Seems to me that 'bird is asking a more general question, not specific to the challenged on many fronts Chevette - can you verify cam timing (on an engine not specified) without disassembly?"

Sorry if I'm wrong on the question.... Assuming I understand the question, I believe the answer is yes, with a few hoops to jump through to confirm true TDC.

So, I've still got the old chitvet, the weather was BEAUTIFUL this week, and I decided to tackle the rear brake leak, since I have the parts.

I swear a communist designed this car. The rear brake servo is held in by a CLIP? Wow. If that's not bad enough, you have to remove the bolts from the backing plate to get it out.

I broke a chunk off one drum beating them loose. A $40 mistake, new one is on the way. To prevent them from rusting in again, I put a VERY thin coat of anti sieze on the axle flange face. Has anyone tried this?

I've never seen lubricating the the flange (drum register) work.

A lot of Fords had an issue with the brake drum seizing to the register flange on the rear axle.

Simple trick for removing them is to take a hand held propane torch and heat the drum in a circular motion just outboard of the axle. You'll hear metallic click as the drum releases from axle, then simply slide the drum off.



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I’ve removed many brake drums with help from a torch. It works, and doesn’t hurt anything. I’ve also worked on my share of ‘vettes. I hope your starter never goes bad. Lol

If you want to take a preventative step I believe that knocking off the sharp edges of the brake drum hole, clean up the axle end for a good fit and spray on a thin coat of epoxy primer and thin top coat to help prevent rust. Running hubcaps will help keep them dry, but when the rust wins use the application of heat like Mike and Steve shared.