When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Disconnect and plug the vacuum hose to the distributor. That "should" bring the "0" line on the balancer down closer to the 0 mark on the tab. I don't recall seeing a tab that was so hard to read- usually, even after they've been painted you can see the lines spaced at 2*. I wouldn't bet that your tab is missing the forward edge.
Disconnect and plug the vacuum hose to the distributor. That "should" bring the "0" line on the balancer down closer to the 0 mark on the tab. I don't recall seeing a tab that was so hard to read- usually, even after they've been painted you can see the lines spaced at 2*. I wouldn't bet that your tab is missing the forward edge.
Isn't the area on the balancer that's been whited out and has a horizontal line your actual timing mark? Pointing pretty much at the zero? What motor is it? If it's a 350, good place to start (with vacuum advance hose plugged - golf tee works well) is to adjust that mark to around 8 degrees Advanced (or roughly where the paint spot is scratched off above the zero on that tab.
It's some number of degrees before top dead center if the red arrow indicates where the mark appears when running.
Thank your buddy, hand him back his cheap light, and buy a digital timing light with advance, like this Innova unit. Since you have, maybe, one mark on your homemade timing indicator, you'll be better off using the timing light itself to make the measurements.
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
You really need to read my paper about how to set the timing. You're not going about this right, especially if you have a racing distributor with no vacuum advance - not a good choice for a street car. E-mail me for a copy.
You really need to read my paper about how to set the timing. You're not going about this right, especially if you have a racing distributor with no vacuum advance - not a good choice for a street car. E-mail me for a copy.
I’ll give you the only useful tip I have on using a timing light. I always have difficulty accurately seeing the marks, especially in lighted areas or outside, so I put some liquid paper on both the damper 0 mark and a mark on the timing tab. Makes it very easy to see. The tab mark might be a bit of a challenge for you.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
the A O R is Advance, 0, and Retard indicating which side of top dead center you are going. I would either buy a stick on timing tape or use Lars method for marking your balancer for advance marks. Without a timing tape or a more expensive timing light that has a dial in advance setting, its going to next to impossible to get any accuracy with that timing pointer.
IF you have an 8" balancer the circumference is 25.13272 = works out to .1396262222 per 2 degrees... which is just over 1/8"
You are about 10-12 degrees advanced if your mark is there... the long lines on the tab are 2 degrees.
I will re-try with the advance plugged (I only have manifold advance no Vacuum advance on my dist.
The smudged mark I believe is my timing mark.
I could not get a pic of it running so I sent a pic of the mark inline with the indicator
The red arrow indicates where I'm seeing the mark with the timing light.
The engine is a 327.
This post is confusing.... "I only have manifold advance no vacuum advance on my dist"
Vacuum advance can be hooked up to a "ported" source or a "manifold" source. If you are checking timing with manifold vacuum advance source hooked up to the distributor, you will have a timing mark showing way above the timing tab when the timing light fires - just like you are seeing now.
I meant to say there is no vacuum advance canister on my distributor.
So I hooked up a port from my Carb to manifold Vacuum.
I will plug this port and retry.
Thanks
Mike
If there is no vacuum advance on the distributor, all the extra ports should be plugged. You'll have PCV, headlight vacuum, transmission vacuum (if automatic), and brake booster (if power brakes). That's all you should have.
If there is no vacuum advance on the distributor, all the extra ports should be plugged. You'll have PCV, headlight vacuum, transmission vacuum (if automatic), and brake booster (if power brakes). That's all you should have.
isnt there a line for HVAC?
Im surprised noone has said get an actual timing tab that bolts on and find TDC. Take a paint pen and mark the grove with the pen the wipe off paint from the surface of the balancer not the groove. It makes the mark easier to see especially when its bare metal and can reflect the light.
1st Time using timing light
