Timeing

[Anonymous]

i have a 66' 200 ,stock form.

I checked the timeing a while ago and it was WAY off the marks, (using those hash marks on the block) the timeing mark on the dampener was almost at the 12 o-clock position. well i backed it down to the factory recomendation of 12 BTDC, (which isnt an actual mark on the block, which i found weird) anyway, i go out to drive it and the car BARLEY got up to 40!!! so i upped the timeing back to where it was. now it seem s to run strong again. my question is why is the timeing so far off? there are no timeing marks anywhere near where it is. I am concerned about detonation, since i dont really know what it sounds like. anyone know what may be goin on? (btw, i have a petronix dist, and the vaccume advance is working correctly)

 

[mjpchief]

Check the harmonic balancer. Sounds like it has slipped.

 

[addo]

So... How do you check if the balancer has slipped? I was looking at a 250 unit yesterday. There is an "S" in a circle on the hub; next to it is cast letters "NDX". About 8° past this is the notches on the outer ring.

What aligns with what in a definitely correct balancer?

Thanks, Adam.

 

[LEROY POLL]

HELLO TRAVIS

TELL US WHAT YOU DID TO CHECK THE TIMING. DID YOU GO BY THE BOOK? DID YOU TAKE OFF THE VACUUM LINE AND THEN CHECK THE TIMING?

YOU SHOULD HAVE A LOAD-A-MATIC DIST. WHICH IS VACUUM ONLY.
YOU HAVE TO TEST OR CHECK THE TIMING WITH NO VACUUM HOOKED UP.

TRY AGAIN AND THEN TELL US WHAT YOU GET.

LIVE IN GRACE

LEROY POLL

 

[mjpchief]

To check the timing marks on the balancer you need to first make sure that the piston in #1 cyl. is at top dead center. To do this you need to watch the rocker arms. After the intake valve opens and closes then you bring the piston the rest of the way to the top of it's stroke. Check this through the spark plug hole. When the piston is at the top of the stroke, check the timing marks on the balancer. TDC should be lined up with the timing indicator. If it is not lined up then your balancer has slipped. If it has slipped you need to change the balancer.

 

[Anonymous]

yes i did do it by the book, with the vacume line detached and plugged, and yes it is a load-o-matic dist.

is it all important to have the balancer in the right position, so long as the car is running good?

 

[mjpchief]

As long as your timing is right it makes no difference if the balancer has slipped. There are a couple of ways to set the timing without even using the timing marks.

 

[Anonymous]

I've been through this a thousand times. You can quickly check the balancer mark this way:

1. Remove your #1 spark plug
2. Remove your distributor cap (just the cap so you can see the rotor)
3. Bring the balancer mark all the way around to '0' on the timing mark AND make sure your rotor is pointing at #1 on the spark plug.

Stick your finger in the #1 plug hole. You should feel the top of the piston. You can also shine a flashlight in the hole, and again, you should see the top of the piston.

If your timing mark is at '0', AND your Dizzy is pointing at #1 AND your piston is at the top of the cylinder, then you know everything is OK.

You can easily figure out from there what you need to do. If your balancer is right, and your piston is at TDC, but your Dizzy is off, then you know that the problem is your distributor is off a tooth.

If you can get your Rotor pointing at #1, and your piston at TDC, then you can get some white-out and scribe a new mark on the balancer.

If your balancer has slipped, I highly recommend the Damper Doctor. He has rebuidls for our Sixes for $50 with core return. Very nice rebuilt unit that I got.

Good luck!