Message-ID: <009301c4d4eb$aa0a6eb0$0202a8c0@brian9bpyrjp9v>
From: "Brian Hagen" <brian.hagen@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Timing yer engine from scratch
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 20:43:30 -0500
I would do this but I dont have a new valve cover gasket to put on. Plus, i
figured I would probably knock something else off
trying to move all the
fuel/vacuum lines when i did it!
Couldnt I do the same thing to find TDC? Putting a dowel in the no1
cylinder and turn the crank till the dowel comes out the furthest, set that
as TDC. (since I think my timing mark is off, i may do this myself tomorrow)
This can work also, but instead of the dowel, use your lucky digit instead, then when the compression blows it out of the plug hole you will know that is the compression stroke. If not on the compression stroke you will be 180 off and that won't work. You will need to do it a couple of times to get it as close to TDC as you can. Make sure the coil wire is disconnected so it doesn't take off. Then you can pull the distributer cap and make sure that the rotor is lined up with the contact to wire going to #1 cylinder.
After that, something that I have done before replacing the spark plug, attach it to the #1 plug with and sit in on a good ground spot. Loosen the distributer slightly and then with the ignition key ON, slowly rotate the distributor back and forth. As the distributor cap contact passes the rotor and everything is lined up you will hear it SNAP and possibly see the spark! This is the spark jumping, thru what I remember as being called, Static Setting your timing. With everything lined up to TDC, and stopping on the snap then you will have the motor completely in TopDeadCenter. Turn off the ignition key and snug down the distributor, replace the spark plug and the motor should start up. Then regular adjustment of the timing will tune you in.
This has always worked for me and other friends and at least took care of the TDC. It sometimes got me to the next possible problem.
Good Luck
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