I'm so going to regret asking this question because I already know you all are going to tell me to do it...and I don't want to, because I really just don't understand the process **FULL DISCLOSURE**

I'm building back up the 60 170 and I'm at the moment when, if I so desire, I would degree the cam.

I don't understand how to do this. I just flat out don't. I degreed my 225 cam during that very lengthy build with a heck of a lot of help from you guys who were gracious and very patient.

During that build, I made engine changes related to performance that made degreeing the cam absolutely necessary. I stumbled through that with your assistance.

This 170 is a stock build. There are no deviations and no engine changes. The wagon is all stock, and I wanted the rebuild to keep to stock. It's nowhere near a daily driver.

I started trying to degree the cam because I did decide to use a multi-keyway roller chain from JP performance. Very quickly, my head began to hurt trying to figure this process out. And I'm now wondering if I should check the the degrees advanced and perhaps use the 2° or 4° keyway to advance and get a little crispier acceleration/peppy response. I understand the Valiant stock cam was a little on the lopey side.

Advice?

Since the engine will be stock, that is all the more reason for the importance of degreeing the cam. If you have all the cam specs available and the tools to do it with, then you should do it.

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There's no such thing as too much cam....only not enough engine!

First thing that doesn't make sense. Trying to find TDC. Well, using my degree wheel, pointer and piston stop, I determined that TDC should be 124°. So I cranked the shaft over and what do I see? The piston traveling past very obvious TDC and going on the downstroke to reach 124° which is supposedly TDC. This cannot be right. This is a 170 'zero deck' engine. What am I missing?

I'd watch some videos of people doing the job. Check out this video from Power Nation TV, http://www.powerblocktv.com/episode/HP2 ... Ab_4BCVBqw
I know they are basically one big advertisement, and overly simplified, but their shows are informative. Just don't let their enthusiasm give you any big ideas, lol. I'll bet there are a ton of good videos on youtube as well.
The degree wheel numbers are just references, no need to be exactly at zero, which is actually TDC.

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Mattelderca
78 NYB (gone now), two S series, three old Snow Cruisers and a Doo.

Sounds like you missed a step. I let a member use an illustration I published in a few magazines a few years back about cam degreeing. Its a pretty indepth article on how to degree a cam, and is about 8-10 pages long with lots of pics and explanations. It's copyrighted and not for public display, but if you think it might help, just let me know.

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There's no such thing as too much cam....only not enough engine!

Has anyone created a "Degreeing a Cam" step-by-step list to reference? I just found this. Seems easy enough.

http://www.lunatipower.com/Tech/Cams/Ho ... eACam.aspx

Do you have all of your cams opening and closing events and other relevant info?

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There's no such thing as too much cam....only not enough engine!

From our Engine section FAQ
http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=39069

And from Crane.

http://www.cranecams.com/uploads/instructions/803_.pdf

I have used the intake center line method because it is so easy, but the Crane article explains why it is not the best method to use.

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2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6