ok so i removed my distributor to prime the engine oil pump, but i didnt mark where the rotor in the distributor was pointing at before removing it, so how do i go about setting my timing now?

John

 

There are a couple of different ways. Pull a valve cover and turn the motor over until the mark on the balancer is lined up with the timing mark, if your on #1 the rockers on #1 will be loose (if not your on #6) then turn it over one more time NOW they are loose. Or pull #1 spark plug and turn the motor over with a finger covering the spark plug hole as you turn it over the compression will blow your finger out and once again the marks will line up.
...redvetracr

 

Do yourself a favor and read Lars' tech paper @ http://www.corvettefaq.com

 

I do something similar, I watch the second rocker (#1 intake) go up and when it starts down I watch for the timing mark to come around and stop at 0. Then I align the rotor to point right at the number one cylinder. Once your get it started you can re-time it. You may have to re-align the oil pump dist slot by using a long screw driver before the rotor will point right at the #1 cylinder.

 

The easiest way would be the second choice redvetracr listed. Pull the #1 plug and hold your finger over the hole while someone bumps the ignition key in very short bursts. You dont wanna actually spin the motor but just bump it ever so slowly with the starter. Then when you feel the pressure blowing yur finger you know yur on the compression stroke. The line the mark on the balancer with the 0 on the timing scale and yur at TDC #1.

 

TWO THINGS, on a SBC, NEVER use the harmonica balancer center bolt to turn the engine over by wrench....use a vice grips on the flex plate with an automatic, or a carefully applied lever/screwdriver with a stick shift to flip the engine....UNLESS you remove all the plugs....even then, that balancer bolt is too small, ......don't ASK!!!!!!.......OK???

I think feeling compression is the best way, hell with removing covers and all that messy oiley sealey crap.........

AND to set the dist in at proper rotation, ignore the damn oil pump position...just be damn sure the rotor will line up at the desired position for #1 plug, and that means taking some time and noting the rotation of it when dropping it home....checking with dist cap in place....and then....hit the starter, it is allready meshed with the cam gear....so that's not changing...
it flops onto the oil shaft....snug it down enough to be close, and finish up...

GENE

 

Quote___________________________________ _________________
TWO THINGS, on a SBC, NEVER use the harmonica balancer center bolt to turn the engine over by wrench....use a vice grips on the flex plate with an automatic, or a carefully applied lever/screwdriver with a stick shift to flip the engine....UNLESS you remove all the plugs....even then, that balancer bolt is too small, ......don't ASK!!!!!!.......OK???
I think feeling compression is the best way, hell with removing covers and all that messy oiley sealey crap.........

AND to set the dist in at proper rotation, ignore the damn oil pump position...just be damn sure the rotor will line up at the desired position for #1 plug, and that means taking some time and noting the rotation of it when dropping it home....checking with dist cap in place....and then....hit the starter, it is allready meshed with the cam gear....so that's not changing...
it flops onto the oil shaft....snug it down enough to be close, and finish up...


:iagree: ...On all the above,, Its a drag when you twist off a dampener bolt in the snout of the crank.. after you have dropped the distributor in and go to crank the engine a tab , I would keep light pressure on top of the rotor to take out excess lash which prevents any chipped oil pump shaft notches or distributor gear teeth.. Just my opinion..... :steering:

 

Finger method is hard to do alone unless you are Stretch Armstrong or have a under the hood starter switch. A grade 8 bolt and no plugs has always been good to me when turning using the balancer bolt. I have to say I am the type of person that hates asking for help to do anything, if I can find away to do it alone I do. I have done almost all the work on my car by myself including pulling and installing the eng with a cherry picker.

 

There are many ways of doing this task for sure, Im too lazy to remove all the plugs and put them back in if not needed, and I assumed that a remote starter switch is part of any tool box.. the good part is, both ways will get the job done..

 

how can i turn the balancer and which direction? center bolt? starter?

 

Fevre, I totally agree with you, but that tiney POS Mitsu I did the engine job on here over the last month, for my wife's daughter, I could not have done it even now yet without my son Toms' help....damn arthritis just slows things down it takes me a day to do an hour's work...stinks....

GENE

 

Gene

I am still young and dumb, well not so young but still dumb and stubborn like a mule. For some reason I never like to bumping the eng using the starter, I can never get it line up like I can when doing it by hand. Either method works, guess it just a preference.

 

Eng rotates clockwise like tightening a bolt. Funny I just switched my balancer last night but need to borrow a balancer installer from autozone to finish the job.