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I just finished installing the cam and timing cover and when I installed the balancer I found that the timing marks on the balancer are way off from the pointer.
You can see where I've marked TDC on the balancer with the orange pen but the 0" marking on the balancer is at the 5:00 position behind the red part of the decal.
I know for a fact the cam is in correctly. I've rotated the engine over and the #1 intake and exhaust valves are opening and closing where they should be according my mark. Should I be concerned about this or just use the mark I made for timing?
Last edited by Cool95vette; Sep 2, 2016 at 10:55 AM.
If your piston is at TDC right now....remove that balancer and return it.
The correct way to mark true top dead center is with a bridge on the block and dial indicator and, as previously stated, mount a adjustable timing pointer from Moroso, Allstar or Canton.......
If you return the balancer......swap it out for one that is a smaller diameter and get the requisite pointer......this is a great place to remove rotating mass.
The OP stated that his mark is at the five-o'clock position.....
If this is the case....take it off and send it back. You paid good money for a part and it should be correct.
Adjustable pointers are only designed to move a few degrees in each direction.....
I would call summit and ask them. TDC will be a certain degree plus or minus or equal from the crank key, depending on the year of the engine/crank.. or the engine gurus can chime in.. I would not assume cam gear timing marks are the definition of TDC. you should at least do a cursory if not full cam degree-in.. the only way to find TDC absolutely/correctly is with dial indicator or the piston stop method.
again.. eyeball both old and new balancers.. is TDC mark both at the same offset from the keyway?
It's seems you are fishing for support and confidence to put that motor in the car as it is. I suggest the feedback to this point is counter to that objective. I would follow Jebby's advice here!
It's seems you are fishing for support and confidence to put that motor in the car as it is. I suggest the feedback to this point is counter to that objective. I would follow Jebby's advice here!
You do not have to follow my advice......but I wish you would. Years from now....some dude will buy this car and post on the forum here asking why the balancer is wrong!
Timing,as an engine builder, to me is the #1 key component in assuring your engine can be tuned proper. Attention to detail here is free and worth a lot. It assures that your advance marks on the balancer for total timing are spot on. On some engines...a degree or two is worth a TON.
Like I said......the OP paid good money for a part that appears to be way off.......I would not let it slide personally.
After digging out an old balancer I had I saw it was off too and I knew I screwed something up. It turns out I put the crank sprocket on the wrong keyway.
Thanks for the replies and I hope one day someone reads this thread and learns from my mistakes.
You get my kudos for responding back and owning up to your mistake. It wouldn't bother us either way, by your post may help others to not make the same mistake.
You get my kudos for responding back and owning up to your mistake. It wouldn't bother us either way, by your post may help others to not make the same mistake.
Harmonic balancer timing marks off
