degree cam - head in place - looking for tips, suggestions

[aribert]

Greetings all:

I want to go back and once again degree the cam in my Falcon - without removing the head. I have bought the special timing set, from our forum host, with the double link chain and the crank gear with the multiple key slots to be able to dial it in. Right now I am running a Clifford M270 solid lifter cam. It is set to the default key position that measured out to be about 1 or 2 deg adv, if I remember correctly. I want to try it at 4 deg adv.

I have made (and tried out) a screw in piston stop so I know that I can find TDC with the head inplace. How do I go about reading valve lift? If I remove the rocker shaft and try to read cam valve lift off of the pushrod end, will there be enough weight to keep the lifter riding on the cam at all times? Or should I read off of the rocker - if so, where? There just are not many flat spots for the indicator tip to ride on without slipping. In the past, I have tried but had difficulties in keeping a dial indicator on the rocker arm when rotating the crank.

Tricks, tips and suggestions welcomed.

 

[bubba22349]

You can set it up to read off the valve spring retainer (total lift) if you have solids. or I made a fixture from an old lifter, gutted it out and welded a rod into it. Your idea to read off the push rod may work if you can make an upper bushing to support the rod near top of head. Good luck

 

[JackFish]

I seem to recall taking a reading off a pushrod and posting about it here.
I think I used some masking tape to hold the rod in place vertically.