Anybody using a Comp 2 piece timing cover?

[jt1]

I'm chasing some spark scatter, 3 or 4 deg at 4K up, and decided to try one of their $$$$ timing covers. I've been using a button and stock stamped cover and figured the cam was bouncing around.

 

How in the #@$% do you get the shims to stay in place behind the thrust bearing until you tighten the gear up????

 

After a zillion tries, one or more of the shims falls between the gear and the cam every time, resulting in a wobbly gear. I tried some heavy grease to hold the shims in place, no luck. Considered silicone, but figured that would affect the clearance too much. Taking the motor off the stand and standing it on it's end is not an option. The slight chamfer on the back of the gear only makes it worse. Thought about breaking out the MIG, but I may want to tear it down in the future.

 

Any suggestions?

 

...considering putting the $4.95 button and $2 cover back on....

 

John

[A. G. Olphart]

John, are you running a roller cam? (If not, the taper on the cam lobes is said to hold the cam in place).

 

Have you minimized the distributor shaft end play? I could see that having a drastic effect on timing.

 

I've also read of distributor weights bottoming out in their slots/bouncing, and causing this problem. (a Really strong spring of proper length on the second weight might minimize that).

 

And finally, how stable are your electronics? I took an old MSD5 out of my wife's Chrysler wagon due to scatter... I think the trigger my have been picking up spurious voltage spikes; we went back to the stock ignition box.

 

Almost forgot to answer your question directly- A little thick grease (maybe even vaseline) will hold your shim in place long enough for assembly.