TDC advice on finding it..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 334
Likes: 6
From: Newark De
TDC advice on finding it..
I have a friend who pulled the distributor out of his 350 and did not pay attention to which spark plug the rotor was facing. Is there a way to look at the rocker arms to tell when it is pointed at the number one cylinder. Or could I use a compression tester in that manner. I know there is a whistle that you can use but we don’t have one. Any ideas would be nice.
Thanks,
Don
Thanks,
Don
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: TDC advice on finding it.. (jump150)
Just pull the #1 plug and bump it over (with the coil wire pulled out of the distributor cap) - put your finger on the plug hole, and when you feel air pressure, you're on the compression stroke. When the index mark on the balancer then lines up with the "0" on the timing tab, you're at #1 TDC. You can verify by pulling the left side valve cover - if both valves for #1 are closed (rocker arms even with each other), you're on #1 TDC; if they're not, you're at #6 TDC and need to go another full revolution.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,271
Re: TDC advice on finding it.. (jump150)
Rotate the engine and watch the #1 inlet valve open and begin to close. Keep rotating the engine and when the balancer notch reaches the tab as the valve is nearly closed, you are approaching TDC #1. Set the notch on the mark to correspond to your initial timing, then install the dist. and rotate it until the points just barely begin to open then back a hair. This should allow the engine to start.
If you can't rotate the dist. to the position that the points just open because of mechanical interference, it is either a tooth off or the drive gear is 180 out. The dimple in the drive gear must point the same direction as the rotor tip.
Whenever I pull a dist. I always set the crankshaft at the #1 the initial timing point - makes it easy to reinstall correctly.
Duke
If you can't rotate the dist. to the position that the points just open because of mechanical interference, it is either a tooth off or the drive gear is 180 out. The dimple in the drive gear must point the same direction as the rotor tip.
Whenever I pull a dist. I always set the crankshaft at the #1 the initial timing point - makes it easy to reinstall correctly.
Duke
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 334
Likes: 6
From: Newark De
Re: TDC advice on finding it.. (jump150)
Now here is some good advice. Thanks for all the help. I personally have always set the engine at 1 TDC before pulling the distributor but my friend get a little anxious and forgot to do that. At least we now have a way to check and get the initial start up done. I can certainly adjust it from then. I appreciate all the help.
Thanks,
Don
Thanks,
Don
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 1
From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: TDC advice on finding it.. (SWCDuke)
any time i pulled a dist i always have the rotor tip at exactly 12:00 oclock. that way there is no question where the rotor tip is pointing when you put it back into the engine if you do not turn the engine :chevy
