Hey guys, I recieved my new special ground cam in the mail yesterday, and all of a sudden it hit me, what about valve to piston clearance. With .140 cut off of the head (which is COMPLETELY built) and the .100 that I have to cut off the block to get around 12:1 comp. Will I have problems with a cam that is VERY VERY close to .600 gross lift, both I and E? I am planning on using the stock pistons and moly rings right now, because I simply cannot afford the 500+ dollars on the custom pistons that I want to have built from JE. So what do you guys think? Thanks allot Jason.

Time to do a trial assembly and take some measurements.
Crank, cam, one piston assembly and the head, use clay to see what the piston to valve clearance is. Be sure to degree the cam for the test.
DD

Thanks Doc, however, I have never built a slant six short block. Is there some documentation available as to how degree the slant six cam. I didn't see anything in my 67' shop manual. Thanks, Jason.

Comp Cams sells a kit for degree'ing cams. It has a video that makes it all very clear. It is not really very hard to do, but it is very confusing to tell someone how to do it.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Dennis is right, degreeing in a cam is pretty straight forward but it is a process where everyone will tell you a different way to do the job!

The basic idea is to position the cam in relation to the crank, usually set the cam to where the "cam card" (specs) say it will run the best.
What you look for are when certain events happen. (when each valve opens and closes)
http://www.dutra.org/pictures/engine/ca ... -plots.jpg
The most important place to look is the overlap event, when the intake valve is just starting to open and the exhaust is closing. during overlap, both valves are open at the same time and this event should be centered (in theory) over TDC Exhaust stroke.

Run a search on the message board (and on the web) for "degree cam" "Cam Degreeing", etc, there is lots of info posted.
DD

Jason,
I need to plot a cam curve, on one of my cams. If you want to come down to my place next Sat or Sun, I can show you how to degree a cam.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Hey guys, thanks again for the help. Hey charlie, I will give you a call sometime today and discuss the plans. I am free on sun. I will let you know. Thanks, Jason.

One more thing, is it possible to cut valve reliefs in the stock pistons? Thanks guys, Jason.

You can cut valve reliefs in any piston as long as you have enough thickness.
General rule is .200 thickness min. on the piston top.
DD