Ignition Timing Without a Timing Cover?

[Anarchology]

I have a 91 Talon TSi, and tossed the lower belt cover that was cracked. However, now I find myself in sort of a problem. Given that cover is gone, I don't know how to actually ignition time the car (retarding/advancing the cam position sensor) using a timing light.

Is there a way to do this without spending $90 for a new timing cover which I have seen on a couple site. For god's sake, all I need is the lower portion of the cover just for that small plastic part that shows the TBC!

 

[DSM1G90]

You could head out to a yard and see if there is any 4G63's out there where you can get a cover from. True, be tons cheaper than the new one and protects the belt as well.

Actually, it's quite easy to do: Get all the marks aligned up (crank, oil, front balancer, and the two cam pulleys) and that is TDC.

Now on the crank pulley, you'd want to imagine a mark about 3/8" to the left of the TDC mark on the pulley. This would be close to the 5*BTDC required.

 

[Anarchology]

You could head out to a yard and see if there is any 4G63's out there where you can get a cover from. True, be tons cheaper than the new one and protects the belt as well.

Actually, it's quite easy to do: Get all the marks aligned up (crank, oil, front balancer, and the two cam pulleys) and that is TDC.

Now on the crank pulley, you'd want to imagine a mark about 3/8" to the left of the TDC mark on the pulley. This would be close to the 5*BTDC required.

I looked around some of the yards and drew up some blanks, but might call around to see what others have.

As for timing it, I'm wondering how to deal with the ignition timing rather than the the timing of the top to bottom end with the belt. That I have done already. The little piece of plastic on the timing cover that shows TDC and retard/advance marks for the ignition timing is what I badly need. This is so I can use a timing light along with the cam position sensor in order to properly ignition time the engine when its back in and running.

 

[DSM1G90]

Didn't know that you had the motor out of the car. Put the crank pulley back on the main sprocket, find the timing dot on the pulley and place another dot on the block straight across to match it up as TDC and do the trick that mentioned earlier when you do the light timing - being 3/8th to the left of the TDC mark is almost the 5* BTDC.

..or, until you get a cover then that'll get you back on the road.

 

[1992awdlaser]

Get a timing light that has an adjustment on it. Turn the adjustment knob to 5* advanced. Point the light at the cam gears. The inner timing marks will line up when the timing is set correctly.

 

[Anarchology]

Didn't know that you had the motor out of the car. Put the crank pulley back on the main sprocket, find the timing dot on the pulley and place another dot on the block straight across to match it up as TDC and do the trick that mentioned earlier when you do the light timing - being 3/8th to the left of the TDC mark is almost the 5* BTDC.

..or, until you get a cover then that'll get you back on the road.

I just got a timing cover for free, so I should be all good now. I cut down the cover so I only have the lower portion of it, so that the little plastic timing portion is nicely intact! Just looked at my crank pulley, and I will definitely put a more visible marking on it to properly time the car.

Thanks everyone!