I am rebuilding the motor that was apart in my boat when I got it.  Its a 454 with a 286 isky cam and do I just align the timinmg marks on the timinmg chain and let it go or do I need to degree the cam?  I have only put together stock motors before and this is a new world for me.  I bored 30 over and new flat top pistons with new rings and bearings...Is there a break in running time and to set the rings and do I change the oil soon afterward?   

I am rebuilding the motor that was apart in my boat when I got it.  Its a 454 with a 286 isky cam and do I just align the timinmg marks on the timinmg chain and let it go or do I need to degree the cam?  I have only put together stock motors before and this is a new world for me.  I bored 30 over and new flat top pistons with new rings and bearings...Is there a break in running time and to set the rings and do I change the oil soon afterward?   

You may get away with simply "aligning to zero", but if you can obtain the cam card, I would set it up for what is recommended with a degree wheel, the only reason is inaccuracies in the timing sets and dowel cuts in the cam....

Personal preference to a point....Do it right, do it once.....

GT

Just looked on the Isky web site and got the cam card and that is words of wisdom "Do it right, do it once".... I need to remember this, maybe tatoo it somewhere or something.

LOL! Thats probibly the best spot to put it for those rare occasions that I do pull my head out.

I have it tattooed on my ass, so when I pull my head out I read it and say "oh yeah"...   J/K

GT

Maybe I should do that as well, lol. But on THIS build of Moo, Lakesonly and Enginedoctor have and will continue to prove invaluable.  

But Yeah, degree the cam in, always, every time. You may only find out that straight up timing is where you need to be, but better to KNOW that going in.  

Ray