Hey guys,
in the process of installing a new timing chain on a Dodge 5.9l V8 gas motor, I've run into an issue where when aligning the timing marks on the cam sprocket and crank sprocket (setting both at the 12 o' clock position) I thought that the #1 cylinder was supposed to be at the TDC position.


If the #1 cylinder is at TDC:


Then the timing marks are pointing more towards 1:30pm (rather than 12):






However, if I align both of the timing marks to the 12 o' clock position, then the #1 cylinder is not quite at TDC:







Is this normal? Am I overlooking something?
I appreciate any help that can be provided

 

With the marks at 12(crank) and 6(cam) Cylinder 6 should actually be in firing position. What does that one look like?

 

With the timing marks aligned (the cam mark at 6 and the crank at 12):



The #6 cylinder is not quite at TDC:

 

Well, unless the crank gear is indexed wrong, that looks you have it installed correctly. There is the real possibility that there is some advance built into the valve train... and that could be perfectly correct. 95 service manual is really uninformative about it......

Assuming the chain is correct, that's gotta be "just the way it is".....

 

I had a feeling that something just wasn't right and so I continued searching and searching and I eventually came across this thread: https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...-gear-set.html


The problem is that I purchased a Mopar Performance timing set and as stated in the thread, there is one large dot which I was using incorrectly to line up the cam and crank, and then there is another tiny little dot that I failed to notice before.

Here is a picture:





SO BOTTOM LINE:
If you purchase a Mopar Performance timing set, make sure you're using the correct dot to line up the new sprockets.


Hopefully this can help out someone in the future

 

DOH!

Wonder what ma mopar's reasoning was for two dots.......

 

It'd be nice if the instructions didn't refer to that big divot as a zero, huh?

 

Nice catch SliceOfLime! I've made that same mistake with a Mopar timing chain set. Didn't figure it out till I had to break the engine back down. Ended up with terrible piston to valve contact...

 

very interesting... i had a similer issue on my Jeep 4.0 engine.. i couldnt get the damn dots to line up for the love of god and then i noticed this

 

The performance gear allows timing to be set at 0, +4, and - 4. I install the Cloyes performance gear set and it's the same. The marks are very confusing and the instructions do not explains which marks are what. Glad you resolved.