How to locate TDC without a timing pointer?
Thread Starter
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
How to locate TDC without a timing pointer?
I have an aluminum timing cover and haven't found a timing pointer that will clear the cover. If I had known this I would have stayed with the stock timing cover. I have every timing pointer offered thru Jeg's and none of them will clear the taller timing cover.
Does this picture look like the balancer timing mark is at the zero mark? I figure an inch back will put me at about 10 deg BTC?? I'm going to have to "eye-ball" this one as removing the cover at this point is NOT an option. In this position, both the rockers on #1 are loose and the rotor is pointing to #1 ( or pretty close).
Does this picture look like the balancer timing mark is at the zero mark? I figure an inch back will put me at about 10 deg BTC?? I'm going to have to "eye-ball" this one as removing the cover at this point is NOT an option. In this position, both the rockers on #1 are loose and the rotor is pointing to #1 ( or pretty close).
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: algonac michigan
it looks a little too far clockwise to me
pull the #1 plug and stick a screw driver CAREFULLY thru the plug hole.
you can feel the top of the piston this way
turn the engine by hand w/ socket on the harmonic balancer
you should be able to feel TDC
put mark on cover w/ black sharpe at 0*
works for me
pull the #1 plug and stick a screw driver CAREFULLY thru the plug hole.
you can feel the top of the piston this way
turn the engine by hand w/ socket on the harmonic balancer
you should be able to feel TDC
put mark on cover w/ black sharpe at 0*
works for me
Race Director
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From: Forked River NJ
You need to be a little more precise than "does that look OK". I would get a piston stop for the spark plug hole. Go one way with the rotation and mark the balancer. Go the other way and mark it. Then split the difference and you will have TDC. If you are off a couple of degrees which is not much rotation you will be pulling your hair out trying to time this. I just have a pointer with a fully degreed balancer on mine. I think this works better than having the timing marks on the cover pointer. You should try to be a precise as possible. You have put to much time into this to not be right on.
Thread Starter
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by Gordonm
You need to be a little more precise than "does that look OK". I would get a piston stop for the spark plug hole. Go one way with the rotation and mark the balancer. Go the other way and mark it. Then split the difference and you will have TDC. If you are off a couple of degrees which is not much rotation you will be pulling your hair out trying to time this. I just have a pointer with a fully degreed balancer on mine. I think this works better than having the timing marks on the cover pointer. You should try to be a precise as possible. You have put to much time into this to not be right on.
That's what I did to set valve lash when I had the engine on a stand. This is the closest position I could determine as TDC. I went thru the positioning about 20 times. Believe me I'm not "guessing" on any of this. I've gone over all this many, many times. Sometimes trying to "second guess" myself. I had a post before the crash and can't locate it now.
A degreed balancer isn't in the money right now.
Piston (#1) is at the top.
Shouldn't I want startup at some degree of "advanced". (4-10?)
Last edited by Jughead; Sep 22, 2004 at 08:11 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
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From: Finland
Hard one. If you know the mechanical scale of your distributor vacuum disconnected say 36max-16idle=20 as I have so you might just put the engine on idle and rotate the distributor as long as you find strong/solid idle and keep that setting until you found the exact one...
But if your engine is new to you you may not remember how does it sound and respond on idle etc - then my advise is worth crap
But if your engine is new to you you may not remember how does it sound and respond on idle etc - then my advise is worth crap
Thread Starter
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by big632
You need to put your tape the other way, I believe its backwards.
:o
You're right. Nice catch. I have the Tavia pointer. Didn't try the washers.
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Race Director
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From: Forked River NJ
I thought that tape looked wrong. I had to go out and look at my car to verify that. Yes you do want some advance on startup. Mine is set at 14 degrees BTC. Going to be hard to set this without the engine running but just bump the dist a little advanced before startup. Once started you can time it from there. They will start when the timing is close.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Living in the Hartland
You can make a temp pointer out of wire, just use one those open bolt holes on the face of the eng to bolt down the wire and bend the wire accordingly. Bubba fer sure but will work until you get one.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Orrtanna Pa.
I'd definately use the piston stop method,and once you find TDC,do yourself a favor and mark the balancer at 36 BTDC.If you have an 8 inch balancer it's 2.5 inches clockwise from TDC.The timing tape only sticks for a week or so. I went though three sets of tape doing my distributer recurve.
Thread Starter
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Should I determine TDC via the piston, balancer and loose rockers and mark the location? Then move the balancer (counter clock-wise) back a few degrees (BTDC-to get a few degrees BTDC) and then line up the rotor & #1 spark plug wire at the the distributor?
I re checked the piston location are loose rockers on #1.
Actually #1, #2 and #8 rockers are loose.
I re checked the piston location are loose rockers on #1.
Actually #1, #2 and #8 rockers are loose.
Last edited by Jughead; Sep 22, 2004 at 02:11 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Orrtanna Pa.
Get a piston stop (or a bolt with the right thread to screw into the sparkplug port on the number one cylinder.Get the number one piston close to TDC and gently snug the bolt till it stops.At this point make a mark on the balancer and timing cover so that the marks line up.(or get a pointer that fits)Now turn the crank backwards till you again hit the stop bolt.Mark the balancer again to line up with the original timing cover mark.You should see two marks on the balancer and one on the cover at this point. Exact TDC will be exactly between the two marks on the balancer.(Doesn't matter how far the marks end up being apart,TDC will be exactly in the center between the marks.)
Thread Starter
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Thanks Money Pit, I think I got it.
I then backed the balancer off to 8 BTDC and then set up the distributor & rotor based on the new balancer setting. I should be very close if not dead on.
I made a make-shift pointer.
I then backed the balancer off to 8 BTDC and then set up the distributor & rotor based on the new balancer setting. I should be very close if not dead on.
I made a make-shift pointer.
