question about installing CAS

[juntjoo]

when I put the CAS in place initially it rotatea about 70° either way til I turn it so far to the left then it locks in place. how is it supposed to be before I bolt it down? thanks

 

[bryanwheat]

Set the engine to tdc with the dowels on the cam gears pointing up, line up the slow on the part of the cas that fits into the cam with the notch on the cas housing and install it. From there you will have to set the timing with a timing light.

 

[AlaskanDsm]

In addition to what Bryanwheat has said... Here is the graphical depiction.

Engine Timing

 

[juntjoo]

okay, so the main thing is just to have the cam gears in the right position? and I'm guessing when you install it its supposed to lock like I mentioned? i'm asking because i'm wondering how I'll be able to adjust it for timing purposes

 

[juntjoo]

In addition to what Bryanwheat has said... Here is the graphical depiction.

Engine Timing

thanks. good link

 

[juntjoo]

so am I good like this:

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or does it have to be perfectly tdc and I have to use something to hold the gears in place?

 

[bryanwheat]

That will be fine as long as it is close just to make sure that the cas isn't 180 degrees out.

 

[juntjoo]

cool thanks. one more thing, as shown here:

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it is rotated to the left and "locked" as I mentioned leaving no room to adjust it back to the right if need be. is this going to be a problem?

 

[pauleyman]

If everything is assembled correctly you won't have to go that far to set ignition timing. You need a timing light and follow the procedures to set ignition timing.

 

[bryanwheat]

What do you mean that it turned to the left and locked? It should turn after installed.

 

[juntjoo]

so when I put the CAS in place on the end of the cam shaft, what position should it be in and should it have play throughout the space the bolt holes provide or should it be locked tight with only a centimeter to move? thanks

 

[bryanwheat]

It shouldn't be locked in position until you tighten the nuts. IT should turn all the way until the stud reaches the end of the slot. As far as where it should be adjusted you need a timing light to adjust that.

 

[juntjoo]

It shouldn't be locked in position until you tighten the nuts. IT should turn all the way until the stud reaches the end of the slot. As far as where it should be adjusted you need a timing light to adjust that.

okay, alright, the stud should reach the end of the slot? the other end, left side where it won't lock? that must be what you mean because if I move it to touch the right side of the slot it locks. okay, I'll try like that...

 

[pauleyman]

Think about this for a minute. What you're turning is the housing. The housing and the inside piece that fits in the cam rotate independently of each other. You should be able to rotate the housing until it hits the stud either way. Set it in the middle then use a timing light to finish the job.

 

[juntjoo]

thanks a lot guys. car is running and idling nice. what was happening was it would lock as I said when turned to the left. don't know why. but I made sure not to let it lock, tightened the nut on a bit with it at tdc, now works

 

[AlaskanDsm]

You realize that you have only partially completed this task if you have not used the timing light to make sure that you have appropriately adjust the CAS to make sure that your timing is at 5* BEFORE TDC.... Just pointing this out. It is very crucial to the health of your engine. I just want to make sure that you realize this before you start having any other issues related to the mis-adjustment of the CAS. Yes it may work but it doesn't mean that it is good.

 

[juntjoo]

no, I know. its my next step. thanks

 

[juntjoo]

how do you guys adjust the CAS? by hand? with the bolts loose i'm having to hammer it, and don't want to do that

 

[92AWDHX40]

Hammer it why would you need to hammer it?

 

[pauleyman]

If I recall there is a nut on each side. Loosen both.

 

[juntjoo]

I just can't do it by hand. should I remove this brace? with bolts on both side loose I cannot do it by hand


also, this is my first time doing the timing. I marked the notch on the crank pulley, hooked the gun up to spark plug wire #1, the closest to the front of the engine on the coil pack and grounded that lone pin behind the battery. the gun flashes erratically and I can see the white mark here and there, seemingly appearing at the same spot but not on every flash of the gun. is that normal. does it sound like I'm doing this right so far?

 

[juntjoo]

timing seems to be on. although check this out:

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see how I cracked the CAS bolt hole. and I didn't do this hammering it. I did it tightening the bolts not using much torque, but apparently too much. did this to the last one too. didn't realize how sensitive it is. does this happen normally too easily like this or an I just clumsy? man I'm tired of breaking stuff. I feel like if I tighten something too loose then I'll have a worse problem. geez...zus!

 

[AlaskanDsm]

You either just have bad luck with the CAS castings or you are tightening them way too much. And if it doesn't feel like you are tightening them much, then you sir should be in the strongest man competitions . If you don't have a set of torque wrenches, you should probably pick a set up and only tighten things down to spec.

 

[juntjoo]

man, I guess so. I'm definitely not that strong. I think it was just made to be carefully tightened with the way its designed so that it can bend like that. there should be more material in the back so it doesnt bend. I have one torque wrench but its huge so I just reserve it for ... well haven't really used it much. maybe I need another smaller one or has anyone used those attachments you just stick onto your wrench with the digital readout, or maybe there is a non digital torque adapter or something. I feel a little inadequate if I have to carry a torque wrench around all the time because I'm too dang clumsy. thanks again for all your replies. atleast I'm running again.

 

[pauleyman]

Something isn't right about that CAS if you cracked it. Something stuck behind it? Not seated fully? It's not right and it should also turn easily if all the fasteners are loose.