I put a timing tape on my SL6 with the numbers on the left of TDC. After thinking about it I realized I may have put it on backwards. The engine rotates clockwise from the front - right? If so, the timing tape should be on the right of TDC. Correct?

Thanks

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'72 Duster (Performance 360)
'83 Ramcharger (Performance 318)
'80 TrailDuster (360)
'80 D-150 Truck (See Below)
CompCams 252S, Holley 390cfm, Offy manifold
Ported, Polished and Gasket Matched
P4286813 Springs,0.040 Overbore,
0.090 Shaved Head

Where'd you get the timing tape? The ones for V8s don't work correctly on slant-6s, unless you have some kind of special vibration damper and a timing tape specifically intended to work with it.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I noticed that the numbers didn't quite line up. But the error is small in the range I would be interested in.

You wouldn't happen to have used a degree wheel you could recommend would you? No one has responded to a degree wheel question I posted.

bwhitejr

_________________
'72 Duster (Performance 360)
'83 Ramcharger (Performance 318)
'80 TrailDuster (360)
'80 D-150 Truck (See Below)
CompCams 252S, Holley 390cfm, Offy manifold
Ported, Polished and Gasket Matched
P4286813 Springs,0.040 Overbore,
0.090 Shaved Head

Don't be fooled, the error is large enough that the timing tapes don't work (besides, where'd you put the tape? The \6 vibration damper has no outer rim like the V8 units).

Pretty much any degree wheel works with the \6, I can't think why a special one would be needed.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

If you are interested in putting timing tape on your damper, you probably have a particular amount of advance in mind. My guess is that you want to know if your mechanical timing is all in by say 28° BTDC.

As an alternative to timing tape, you could mark your damper yourself. I have done this myself with a piece of paper cut to the right length and a chisel to slightly nick the damper at the right location. I have a sample calculation you could use on my propane ignition webpage.

As for the location of the new timing mark, look at the existing timing marks. If the advance increases from 0° TDC in a counterclockwise direction, then you have to put the new mark on the damper in the clockwise direction (measuring from the timing mark on the damper). When you rev the engine, the new mark will appear at 0° TDC when your timing is set correctly.

Frank

The engine does rotate clockwise from the front of the engine. Correct?

bwhitejr

_________________
'72 Duster (Performance 360)
'83 Ramcharger (Performance 318)
'80 TrailDuster (360)
'80 D-150 Truck (See Below)
CompCams 252S, Holley 390cfm, Offy manifold
Ported, Polished and Gasket Matched
P4286813 Springs,0.040 Overbore,
0.090 Shaved Head

I believe the engine rotates clockwise from the front.

Just verified by looking at fan.....

When standing infront of engine, it rotates clockwise.....

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Just verified by looking at fan.....

When standing infront of engine, it rotates clockwise.....

_________________
Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

I was also wondering about this this weekend while setting my timing. If my timing light is on the driver's side of TDC my timing is BTDC and retarded, correct? And if on the passenger's side it is ATDC and advanced, correct?

How many degrees are represented by each notch on that plate?

And what is that plate called, damper, harmonic balancer?

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God took you away, then brought you back to me.

Depending upon the age of your engine, your timing marks are either going to be visible from the driver's side or the passenger side of the engine. Since the engine rotation is the same, no matter what, the direction in which the degrees advance on the timing mark will be the same too.

There should only be one notch on the harmonic damper (the plate). When your timing light flashes (and you've attached the pickup lead to the #1 spark plug wire), the notch on the damper should line up with the degrees of advance on the timing marks.

Sometimes the timing marks are hard to see but you can clean them up with some fine sandpaper. Once clean, you should be able to see a large line that corresponds to 0° or Top Dead Center (TDC). Looking from the front of the engine, timing will be advanced towards your left (the passenger side of the car). Also, you should see smaller lines and these will either increase by 2° or by 5° and should be able to easily find a mark for 10° BTDC (Before Top Dead Center - advanced).

If notch lines up with a mark to your left of the 0°, your timing is advanced and if it is to your right, your timing is retarded. Where ever it is, when you rev the engine, the notch should appear to move to your left or counterclockwise from the front.

Frank
http://cars.rasoenterprises.com