Can engine run with timing 180 off?
 

My small block was running great. So I decided to do a cam change and tear it apart. I wanted to check the timing marks from the previous owners build. So I did the following.

1. Marked #1 plug on dist. base and removed cap.
2. Rotated crank until rotor pointed at #1 (confirmed compression) then put the mark on the balancer at zero on the timing tab.
3. Removed the timing chain cover.

Now at this point I was expecting to find the crank dot at 12 o'clock and the cam dot at 6 o'clock. That did not happen.

The crank was at 12 o'clock AND them cam sprocket was also at 12 o'clock.

When I line them up at 12 and 6 the rotor points at #6.

Is this possible?

I am confused

I fired mine up 180 degrees off, and it was a scary violent experience. Although it ran, it sputtered, chugged, and flamed out the carb.

It was nowhere near driveable though.

What am I missing here?

I just don't understand because the cam sprocket is keyed to only go one way.

Here is a better question. When the dots are at 12 and 6, where does the rotor point? mine points at #6 plug

The dots just need to line up at 12 and 6 or 12 and 12 ,don't worry about the timing tab at this point.

Your trying to mix camshaft timing and ignition timing,you don't need to do that to set cam timing.

edit-removed part of my post, it was confusing and I said 180 when I should have said 360 and I misread what the OP was after.
Mike Ward covered it.

That's the way it's supposed to be. Many people make the mistake of thinking that #1 firing is with the dots pointed at each other.

Nope, perfectly normal.

Okay, just so I can understand.

Dot to dot is TDC but NOT the compression stroke. To time the engine I need to rotate it 180 so that its crank 12 o'clock and cam 12 o'clock and that will be TDC on the compression stroke.

I was about to be "one of those people"

:iagree:
It no where resembles an engine running! My wife ran for the hills, the neighbors baby started crying, etc...:D

Correct! :cheers:

just about the time I think I know something... Bam! something like this happens.

Thanks fellas !

You can make sure by holding your finger over the number one spark plug hole while you turn the crankshaft over.