karmstrong_2

I'm doing a cam swap and also changing my head gaskets on my 98 GT. I helped a buddy of mine who is a technician with most of the tear down. However, he took out the cams on his own and I just went home to help with getting the heads out. My problem occurs here...I was looking around the motor and noticed that the crankshaft hadn't been aligned to top dead center and now the cams are already out. I'm not sure if this is a big deal or not because we're reinstalling different cams so I'm not sure how we'd get them in in the exact position that the old ones were in. So my question is, when we reinstall the new cams can we just turn the motor to top dead center then and the valves and cams will realign that way or will that cause damage? Also if it can't be done like that what will I need to do? Thanks in advance for all the help!

contentsunderpressur

Have you already taken the chains off?

contentsunderpressur

Your supposed to take the cam followers out so you can spin the cam without it opening any valves. Then you just line up the timing marks and then reinstall the followers.

karmstrong_2

well we have the cam gears and the cams out with marks on the timing chain and the gears so we know where they line up. What exactly are the followers? We just have the chains off the gears but not off the crank yet. Thanks

blackstallion666

i would totally retime the engine. seems to risky to put it back together

karmstrong_2

That's what I was thinking too. I'm doing a ton of work to it and I'd rather just get it right the first time. Is retiming it something I can do in my driveway or will I need to take it to a shop or something? Is there a write up on how to do it, any special tools or anything? Thanks again

oxfordgt

https://mustangforums.com/m_3081129/tm.htm
as long as your not useing comp cams you can do it this way.

karmstrong_2

That's an awesome write up thanks a lot! I may have some questions down the road for you if you don't mind!

oxfordgt

I dont mind. I am here to help.

lizzyfan

Ox, you need to get that stickied!
Good sh*t!!!!