Expert opinion needed regarding cam timing

[budget76]

Jess, I forgot to add that I do know my ends of the cams weren't perfect squares. They were kind of rounded/odd shaped like yours, but I don't know if it's that dramatic of a mis-shape like yours are.

[minicoop900]

hey jess, were doing an m42 timing chain right now and have the engine at tdc with the factory tools and blocks, and the square levels should line up with the mating surface for the valve cover.
as in the squares should make it a straight line to each side

[thesk8nmidget]

damn i hate timing motors its one thing that boggles my mind.

[cooljess76]

Alright guys, I figured it out and it all makes sense now. The tops of the blocks do not have to be level. It's definitely the sides that need to be square with the head. Why you ask? Well I noticed that the sides of the blocks were cut/ground down, not the tops. Meaning that the factory machined them to spec. The tops are still rough as they were never machined like the sides. Therefore, it only makes sense that the tool fit precisely against the machined edge of the blocks. Anyway, I made a new tool with deeper cutouts for the blocks. It fits perfectly snug and sits level/flush across the head profile. The cuts on my tool are all perfectly 90 degrees and there's absolutely no slack where it slides over the blocks. Here's pics of the new tool in action:

[cooljess76]

Notice that the sides of the block have been shaved and not the tops:
(yes I know it's dusty in there, don't worry it'll get blown out before I button things up.)

[b.u.ti-ful]

Done and done.

Happy Easter.

[BimmerBum]

Very nice!