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Just don't have the right Timing!
https://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12405		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  NewLancerMan [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Just don't have the right Timing!
Ok folks,

Got the HEI conversion in today. Very smootha and easy except for one little rascally issue--I CANNOT find any timing marks on my balancer pulley! It makes swapping the distributor a pita ;-)

What I did was this: noted where the old distributor's rotor was pointing when I took it off. Put the new one on exactly in the same spot. Car wouldn't start. When swapping distributors, I also had to change over the bracket from the old one. AHA! That's the problem. So I try to set it where the bolt marks were from the last one, and I can't get it to start.

Lots of messing around later, I finally get it to start. However, I have to turn the mixture screw out 5 full turns to get it to run. It runs great for a bit, but once it warms up, dies at idle. Any time I come to a stop, dead.

Now, I tried to find a timing mark. I scraped the entire thing with my finger nail and found 1 little tiny nick. Definitely not a notch. However, when the rotor is at 4pm, I do come across a large 1" flat spot. Both rotations of the motor ending at the rotor in the 4pm spot put me right there.

In addition, I stuck my finger into the center of the harmonic balancer and went about 1.5". I didn't find any marks or anything, just a cap that I assume is on top of the crank. So no luck there.

I also tried putting a long wire into the #1 cylinder and tried the "push it out trick". Problem was, I wasn't sure if I was on the compression or power stroke, so I wasn't sure if I should use this to make a mark.

Could someone kindly advise me on how to make my own timing mark so I can get this thing dialed in correctly? I'd be ever grateful!

Thanks!

MJ
Author:  steponmebbbboom [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
here's a link to a response I posted earlier,

http://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php ... ght=#65617
Author:  NewLancerMan [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
Step--Thanks and question:

Should the mark at TDC point to the center of your timing tab or to 0 degrees on the timing tab (I think that's my first mark).

The key to changing what I was doing is to take off the valve cover and check the valve movement. DUH. Not sure why I didn't think of that. Too many hours messing around today and not enough open ventilation in the barn....with the car running...that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Also, since I have electronic ignition, is there some kind of trick like you suggested turning the dist until the points close to zero it in?

Thanks! First time i've ever had a distributor out so atleast I made it home! :D

MJ
Author:  steponmebbbboom [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Timing tabs are usually degreed in 5* increments, 0* usually being the center. If your tab is not marked with numbers I would go by the center line.

I am not sure what the pickup wheel looks like on those distributors but I would index the dist so the rotor points to tower #1, and the starwheel is just starting to line up with the teeth on the pickup. Remember which way the shaft is rotating so you don't index it on the trailing end. That should ballpark it enough to get you running.
Author:  NewLancerMan [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Timing tabs are usually degreed in 5* increments, 0* usually being the center. If your tab is not marked with numbers I would go by the center line.
It has some numbers, i scraped off the gook earlier this week and thought it was 0-5-10, but maybe it was -5, 0, 5, 10 or sumthing. I don't recall. I check it tomorrow or wednesday and post back on what I can manage
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
Your '62 timing tab has (from top to bottom) 0, 5 BTDC and 10 BTDC lines. There are no ATDC (after top dead centre) marks on it -- those didn't start til '67. Your new mark you make should be opposite the 0 line.

You don't have to pull the valve cover to figure out where to make the mark. Do the long-wire-in-the-plug-hole trick again, find TDC, put a dab of white paint on the damper opposite the 0 mark, rotate the engine to the next TDC (indicated by your long wire in the plug hole), and put a dab of paint (some other color, if you want) opposite the 0 mark.

One of these marks will work. The other one won't interfere.

I wonder how past tuneups were accomplished on your engine, absent a timing mark!
Author:  NewLancerMan [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
well considering a few things on the past tune ups thing:

1--points were worn, and I know for a fact its been atleast since 1984 since a tuneup was done. And since 1984, only 2000 miles, so you tell me how long it takes to wear out a set of points....perhaps this was a LONG time ago when a timing mark was easier to see. I'm getting out a little metal chisel tomorrow and dragging it along the wheel to see if I can find anything.

2--even after doing all of this poorly adjusted thing, the car accelerates much better. its almost as if it can ;-) Not sure how good the timing was before since I couldn't check it! :oops:

3--I'm a dope, so be certain not to regard anything I say as fact, but as stilted semi-observation with a mind constantly in a natural state of stagnant inebriation.
Author:  Dennis Weaver [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 8:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
...where's the mark when the rotor's at 4AM???

Sorry, man, I had to say it!

D/W
Author:  NewLancerMan [ Tue Mar 29, 2005 9:07 am ]
Post subject: 
i shoulda just said 4'0'clock to keep you yanksters away! I will find that mark just to spite you!
:arrow:

MJ
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