Ford 302 Cam Gear Timing Mark Diagram
Ford 302 cam and crank timing-mark guide for M-6268-A302, including zero keyway, multi-index advance/retard marks and torque checks.
With Ford Performance's M-6268-A302 set installed straight up, use the crankshaft gear keyway directly below the '0' mark and align the cam and crank sprocket timing marks in the facing position shown by Ford. Install both sprockets and chain simultaneously. The cited set uses a 40-45 lb-ft cam bolt with threadlocker, 9-12 lb-ft retainer-plate bolts and a required two-revolution interference/alignment check.
Cam timing determines when the valves move relative to piston position. On the Ford 302 / 5.0L Windsor, being one tooth or one keyway wrong can produce poor compression, a no-start, or piston-to-valve contact. The marks must be identified on the actual sprockets before the chain is installed.
Ford's nine-position sprocket carries more than one valid keyway and timing symbol. 'Straight up' means the crank key engages the keyway below 0; advance or retard uses the specifically paired keyway and mark.
The interactive diagram is a preparation and verification controller. Use the physical drawing supplied with the exact timing set for tooth-level placement, because multi-keyway crank gears, variable cam phasers and replacement sprockets can carry extra dots, triangles or part-number marks that are not timing references.
Interactive Ford 302 / 5.0L Windsor cam-timing workflow
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Follow the installation stages in order. The clock positions describe the front-facing sprocket marks, not ignition timing at the harmonic balancer.
Ford 302 Cam Gear Timing Mark Diagram
| APPLICATION / ITEM | SPECIFICATION | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Straight-up keyway | Below 0 mark | M-6268-A302 |
| Adjustment range | ±8° in 2° steps | Nine-position crank gear |
| Cam bolt | 40-45 lb-ft | Threadlocker specified |
| Retainer plate | 9-12 lb-ft | Threadlocker specified |
The nine-position crank gear can intentionally advance or retard the cam in two-degree steps. A numbered advance/retard keyway must be paired with its matching mark; mixing symbols changes cam timing.
How to use this specification correctly
- 01
Confirm engine code, model year, camshaft, timing cover and timing-set part number. Read the entire service or component procedure before rotating either shaft.
- 02
Disconnect the battery, drain fluids required by the vehicle procedure and support accessories safely. Keep dirt, gasket debris and coolant out of the oil pan and open engine.
- 03
Before chain removal, rotate the assembled engine to the source-specified timing position and photograph every mark, keyway and colored link. Do not rotate crank and cam independently on an interference engine.
- 04
Inspect the crank key, cam dowel or phaser locator, sprocket teeth, chain rollers, guides, tensioner, thrust plate and oiling passages. Replace damaged parts as a matched system.
- 05
Install the retainer plate and temporarily fit the cam gear/eccentric to verify cam end play and dowel engagement before final chain assembly.
- 06
Place the chain over both sprockets with the selected matching marks aligned, slide them onto crank and cam simultaneously, torque the cam bolt, oil the chain and rotate the engine twice by hand.
- 07
Apply only the specified lubricant and thread treatment. Tighten the sprocket fasteners with the documented holding method; never use the timing chain itself as a counterhold.
- 08
Release or install the tensioner exactly as directed, then rotate the crankshaft slowly by hand through at least two complete revolutions. Stop immediately if resistance rises unexpectedly.
- 09
Return to the verification position and confirm sprocket marks, mechanical clearance and cam end play. Colored chain links may not return to the marks after only two crank revolutions, so judge the final check by the manual's sprocket-mark rule.
- 10
Prime the oiling system when required, reinstall covers and the correct balancer/pointer combination, then verify oil pressure and ignition/cam correlation after startup.
Which timing marks apply
Ford's nine-position sprocket carries more than one valid keyway and timing symbol. 'Straight up' means the crank key engages the keyway below 0; advance or retard uses the specifically paired keyway and mark.
The fuel-pump eccentric and cam dowel length are application parts. Ford warns that the dowel must engage correctly without contacting the washer and that cover-to-eccentric clearance must be checked.
Installation and verification method
Install the retainer plate and temporarily fit the cam gear/eccentric to verify cam end play and dowel engagement before final chain assembly.
Place the chain over both sprockets with the selected matching marks aligned, slide them onto crank and cam simultaneously, torque the cam bolt, oil the chain and rotate the engine twice by hand.
Critical mistakes to avoid
- Pairing a zero keyway with an advance/retard mark
- Letting the dowel bottom against the washer
- Using an incompatible two-piece eccentric
- Skipping cam end-play measurement
- Confusing damper-pointer marks with sprocket marks
Cam timing is not ignition timing
Sprocket marks phase the camshaft to the crankshaft. A balancer and pointer are used later to set or verify ignition timing. Aligning chain dots does not establish the distributor's No. 1 terminal or program an ECU cam offset.
On a four-stroke engine the crank rotates twice for one cam revolution. A dot-over-dot chain-installation position may place cylinder 1 on overlap rather than its firing stroke; identify compression TDC separately before installing a distributor or routing ignition wires.
Pre-start checklist
- Correct keyway and timing symbols selected
- Cam dowel/phaser slot fully engaged
- Chain tight on the drive side as specified
- Guides and tensioner installed and released
- Fasteners torqued with correct thread treatment
- Cam end play/clearance checked
- Two slow crank revolutions completed
- Sprocket marks rechecked at verification position
- Oil system primed where required
Ford Ford 302 / 5.0L Windsor specifications can change by model year, engine, platform, wheel, and installed component. Confirm the VIN or engine identity, part numbers, fastener condition, and the current manufacturer instructions before service.
Ford 302 Cam Gear Timing Mark Diagram FAQs
Which keyway is straight up on Ford M-6268-A302?+
Ford says the crank key engages the keyway located below the 0 mark.
What is the Ford 302 cam sprocket bolt torque?+
The cited Ford Performance set specifies 40-45 lb-ft with threadlocker.
Should the colored chain links line up again after two rotations?+
Not necessarily. Link-tooth counts determine when colored links repeat. After hand rotation, use the sprocket alignment and verification procedure stated by the service manual.
Can the crankshaft be turned with the timing chain removed?+
Do not do so unless the exact service procedure places the pistons safely and explicitly permits it. GM and Mopar procedures warn of piston-to-valve damage.
Should an aftermarket cam be degreed?+
Yes when its manufacturer or the engine build requires it. Dot alignment establishes the selected keyway position; degree-wheel measurement verifies the cam's actual installed centerline.
Technical sources
TorqueSheet favors engine- and component-specific manufacturer instructions over unsourced universal values.
1Ford Performance M-6268-A302 timing-set instructionsFord documents simultaneous sprocket/chain installation, the multi-keyway zero mark, end-play check, two-revolution verification and 40-45 lb-ft cam bolt.↗2Ford Performance M-6268-A302 product recordFord identifies the 289/302/351W applications and nine-position crank sprocket with straight-up, advance and retard keyways.↗