Harmonic balancer installed and timing mark question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 197
Likes: 26
From: Clifton, virginia
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 961
Likes: 275
From: Frederick MD
you can put the distributor in at any point on the compass. as long as you can find cyl 1 at tdc, you can put the plug wires on so it will time up correctly. makes more sense to set it up with 1 and 2 in the front but it will run wherever it is set up correctly. you made it sound like apparent timing was moving around. that is why i asked about key in crankshaft.
1. A balancer has slipped.
2. A previous Bubba mechanic restabbed the motor just any old way. Traditionally the number 1 is at the 11 o'clock and the 8 is at the 1 o'clock on the dizzy looking from back to front, but it will run any old way as long as you match up a distributor post with the rotor and the appropriate plug wires.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,726
Likes: 1,379
Thanks for this info. I rotated my crank back and forth to install the flexplate and lost track....now I'm out of whack. This looks like the simplest solution.
quicky TDC check since valve covers are off. rotate engine past the TDC mark. look at the valves on #6 and #1 cyls. the exhaust is just closing and intake is just opening right at TDC on either cyl. one or the other cyl. the other cyl is at compression-firing at the same point. this is not dead-to-rights, but it will tell you if you are close.
Last edited by carriljc; Jun 10, 2022 at 12:23 AM.
