50fiend

I think this is going to be a stupid question, but I want to make sure. If I set the timing mark on the block to the 10 on the ATC side of the damper and the rotor at the 1 on the cap will I have a 10 deg advance timing. Also, should the rotor tip be centered on the #1 point or on the leading edge of the rotor tip. Does it even matter?

bmorrisj

that would make it a 20* retard, TDC would be 10* retard and 10* BTDC is base... if im wrong someone please correct me...

roundman

no stupid questions, only stupid answers! you're close but on the wrong side of top dead center. stock timing is 10 degrees before top dead center (BTDC), not after top center (ATC). you have to set the timing using a timing light, you can't set it statically but you can get it close using the method you describe. if you've pulled the distributor out for some reason and are trying to get it back in, yes you need to have #1 cylinder on the compression stroke and the timing mark at TDC and the rotor aimed so the final position once the gears mesh is pointed in the general direction of the #1 plug in the cap. you must allow for the movement of the rotor as the gears mesh in order to be pointed at the right spot in the cap. quick tip, get some white model makers paint and mark the balancer at the 10 degree BTDC mark so it's easier to see when you set the timing. put on a small amount and then wipe off the excess with your finger leaving just the groove full of paint and let it dry before you fire it up.

50fiend

I don't have a timing light so I timed it by ear. For the last few nights I've been screwing with the timing with no luck. Last night, after reading the service manual and some timing threads off this forum, I decided to just start the car and loosen the clamp for the distributor and twist it until it ran smooth. Well that worked pretty good. The funny thing is that after I test drove the car I notice that the mark I made on the base of the distributor was right were it should be (I wasn't paying attention to the mark while turning the distributor). I had it set there before and it still ran like crap with NO power, for what ever reason it worked this time. Anyway, it's up and running and I'm very happy.[sm=smiley20.gif]