blk95snake

I recently changed out the balancer on my 94 cobra. Prior to the change I had my timing set at 14 degrees using a timing gun. The tick mark on the bottom of the distributor would be slightly offset from the tick mark on the block. After the change, with the tick mark in the same spot, the new balancer reads about 18 degrees. However, it's hard to tell because the timing marker isn't dead on one degree or another. It seems to bounce about one degree in each direction. Now, when I align the tick mark on the base of the distributor with the tick mark on the block (should be stock 10 degrees) it reads 14 degrees. Has anyone ever had issues like this before? The old balancer had to be replaced because the inner rubber seal was bursting out, causing the car to shake. I'm thinking maybe driving around with the bad balancer too long could have messed up the settings. Also, maybe I the auto store gave me a balancer for another (slightly different balancer) year. The only reason I say that is because everytime I get a part for my car they give me the wrong one. Autozones computer inventory lists many wrong parts for the 94 cobra.

I can pretty much set the back fairly close to 14 degrees by trial and error and seeing how it runs, but I would like to be more accurate obviously. I've even set it close to 30 degrees (according to the damper), which means something is definetly wrong. Maybe I have a wire backwards or something. A friend of mine once changed the wires around to allow for more room, maybe he mixed something up. I check the timing, but in the mean time, do any of you guys have any ideas? It still runs as good as it did before the change when I align the tick marks like they were before.

5.0stanger

You old one was probably spun, set it to the the new one. I don't know why a balancer would be different for a cobra, still a 50 oz imbalance and same timing cover.

SSKiller

I agree

blk95snake

How do I set it to the new one? I know I can pull the plug on the number one cylinder and feel for TDC, but is there a different way? If not, how accurate will this be?

5.0stanger

same way you would set it with the old one, by the marks. Just trust that it is right.

If you want to test it, turn it to just before TDC, take out the #1 plug and carefully place a screwdriver in the cylinder on top of the pistion and rotate the crank till it stops going up and look to see how close you are to TDC. I bet you will be in a couple degrees, which is close enough. Then just set it to 14* or what ever you want to.

vristang

When you replace the damper, you don't need to worry about #1 being at TDC.

The balancer is keyed to the crank so that it can only go on the right way.


On the other hand, you do need to reset the base timing, as the old balancer may not have been giving accurate timing readings. The outer section of the damper can rotate in relation to the inner portion when the rubber ring gets old.

Just reset the base timing to 10*, and see how the car runs.
You may be able to get more base timing than that, but 10* is a good place to start.

5.0stanger

^^Thats what I meant to say...really....wish I would spend more time making myself more understansdable

blk95snake

Thanks guys!