Reading the Harmonic Balancer

[thedugan]

Need help understanding where TDC is on the balancer.

Don't know why I'm confused but I am. The white line at 0 to me is TDC.

What is that second white line for?

Cranked the motor over so I know its on the compression stroke but need to turn the crank to true TDC

[Vegas69]

90 degrees....The compression stroke is right after the intake valve opens. After the intake valve opens and closes when you get to zero that is when you stab the distributor.

[thedugan]

Thanks man so what your saying is bring the pointer to the "lonely" white line and then I'm ready for the distributor.

I'm trying to avoid taking the valve cover off. I gotta remove the procharger and the wiper motor first which isn't the end of the world but Id rather not have to unless its the last resort.

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by thedugan

Thanks man so what your saying is bring the pointer to the "lonely" white line and then I'm ready for the distributor.

I'm trying to avoid taking the valve cover off. I gotta remove the procharger and the wiper motor first which isn't the end of the world but Id rather not have to unless its the last resort.

the "lonely" white line is not TDC and not where you want to be to drop in the distributor. The white line at the mark "0" is TDC, but not necessarily ready for the distributor to drop in either.

Pull the #1 plug, plug the spark plug hole with your finger and slowly turn the engine over by hand until you feel/hear compression push past your finger. You should be approaching the tdc line with the "0". I like to stop at say 16 degrees before tdc (or whatever idle timing you want to run). Drop in the dist with the rotor pointing towards the #1 plug terminal. Turn the key to "on" (don't crank) and attach the #1 plug wire to the spark plug, and ground the plug terminal onto something metal. With the key on slowly turn the distributor until the plug fires, and lock the distributor down at that position. Re-install the #1 plug and wire and the engine should be ready to fire.

Jody

[thedugan]

Thanks Jody.

I'm running the Accel Dual Sync so wish me luck.

Phasing the rotor now

[thedugan]

When I read thru the Accel Dual-sync instructions it wants you to bring it to TDC then phase the distributor for the cam and crank LED's. Then lock it

Then turn the motor to 23-30 BTDC and then phase the rotor. If I follow these instructions then how the heck do you turn the motor backwards? I turn the motor on the balancer bolt so if I turn it backwards the bolt would back out? Like before I'm missing something here? confused. Help.
Jegs and summit sell the Proform tool that would work but there must be simpler way. I cannot get to the flywheel to turn it, the scattershield is in the way.

[V8TV]

Originally Posted by camcojb

the "lonely" white line is not TDC and not where you want to be to drop in the distributor. The white line at the mark "0" is TDC, but not necessarily ready for the distributor to drop in either.

Pull the #1 plug, plug the spark plug hole with your finger and slowly turn the engine over by hand until you feel/hear compression push past your finger. You should be approaching the tdc line with the "0". I like to stop at say 16 degrees before tdc (or whatever idle timing you want to run). Drop in the dist with the rotor pointing towards the #1 plug terminal. Turn the key to "on" (don't crank) and attach the #1 plug wire to the spark plug, and ground the plug terminal onto something metal. With the key on slowly turn the distributor until the plug fires, and lock the distributor down at that position. Re-install the #1 plug and wire and the engine should be ready to fire.

Jody

Good trick, Jody!