Finally stable
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 217
Likes: 21
Finally stable
Been fighting with this 81 since I got her a month or so ago. FINALLY got it running stable, just wanted to take a minute and share it. Here's how she's running now:
I rebuilt the dirty carb, installed a power steering pump and control valve (didn't have a pump at all), and replaced the headlight vacuum hoses.
Story below:
"I actually don't know a lot about this engine, just bought the car about a month ago and the guy lied about what was in it. He said it was a 350 stroked to a 383, but after buying it and finding the engine code, it's a small journal 327. I can't set the timing exactly since the balancer doesn't have timing degree marks ( just the one TDC mark ) and the timing cover just has a single TDC marker.
Here's what I know about it so far:
Aftermarket cam
Aftermarket rockers
Edelbrock 1407 carb with Torker 2 intake
Crankshaft either has a bolt hole drilled or is aftermarket (since they didn't come with bolt holes and it has one)
882 heads (gross, I know)"
Story below:
"I actually don't know a lot about this engine, just bought the car about a month ago and the guy lied about what was in it. He said it was a 350 stroked to a 383, but after buying it and finding the engine code, it's a small journal 327. I can't set the timing exactly since the balancer doesn't have timing degree marks ( just the one TDC mark ) and the timing cover just has a single TDC marker.
Here's what I know about it so far:
Aftermarket cam
Aftermarket rockers
Edelbrock 1407 carb with Torker 2 intake
Crankshaft either has a bolt hole drilled or is aftermarket (since they didn't come with bolt holes and it has one)
882 heads (gross, I know)"
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,450
Likes: 1,478
From: Little Rock AR
Verify that the balancer mark and the timing pointer are both lined up exactly at #1 TDC and then wrap a cloth measuring tape around the diameter of the balancer. The dimension mesurement around the balancer divided by 10 is the distance to the 36 degree point on the balancer. This mark you can draw on it with a sharpie marker. It is located clockwise to the right on the balancer surface. Use that mark to set the timing. Disconnect the vacuum advance first then rev it up until the timing mark stops advancing at high RPM then line up the 36 degree sharpie mark on the balancer with the zero mark on the timing pointer. Lock down the distributor clamp and hook the vacuum advance back up. That is how to set the timing.
