Setting Base Timing

[johnk]

I was going through the timing faq on plymouthlaser.com and I couldn't find the mark on the crank pulley. I searched all over the thing and I was like oh maybe it's just not light enough here for me to see it under the car so I ran my finger across the center ridge on the outside of the pulley and I couldn't find any notch. Did I misread the faq is there some other place your supposed to look for the notch to mark TDC on the crank pulley. I noticed a lot of tick marks on the inside of the pulley but had no idea if I should use them or which one to use.

 

[johnk]

what no body here has ever set their base timing??? I'm supposed to do it tonight so that I can drive my car home tonight

 

[shwinp]

You should see a plate next to the pulley with 5, 10, BTDC marks on it. If you take a timing light to the pulley, you will see the notch, you can't miss it - even if you don't white it out.

 

[xcelr8n]

ya you really shouldnt be able to miss it, i saw it in the pitch black with juss a dim flashlight while i was cranking the crank by hand.
after i got the damn party strobe light on it, it was very visible

 

[DevilSperm]

look harder, its there...i can never see mine unless i put chalk on it first...tap the starter to move it and keep looking, youll find it

 

[xcelr8n]

another tip, spin the crank til the two dowels on the cams go to 12 o clock, and then look for it, it should be around the T mark on the lil plastic piece next to it

 

[johnk]

That's what I did I matched up the cam gears and then looked for it. There's nothing there though So I just marked it under the 0* TDC mark from the t belt cover. The car seems to pull better and boost more quickly so I can't be too far off.

 

[AL92]

My problem might be related.I have put my cam gears so the notches line up but my crank pulley notch is over quite a bit from the timing tab thing.LIke three inches.Is is possible for this to happen if you aren't at tdc on compression on number 1? Or do you guys think my balancer pulley has separated and slipped.That could account for maybe why my car is running not the best as seems setting timing like that you would be thinking you are right but actually would be wrong.I guess could try what you did.Put a mark at zero and see whats up with the way the car runs and buy a new pulley since have high mileage anyway and here they fall apart past 100,000 miles.Maybe yours slipped so much your mark isn't close either.

 

[DevilSperm]

My problem might be related.I have put my cam gears so the notches line up but my crank pulley notch is over quite a bit from the timing tab thing.LIke three inches.Is is possible for this to happen if you aren't at tdc on compression on number 1? Or do you guys think my balancer pulley has separated and slipped.That could account for maybe why my car is running not the best as seems setting timing like that you would be thinking you are right but actually would be wrong.I guess could try what you did.Put a mark at zero and see whats up with the way the car runs and buy a new pulley since have high mileage anyway and here they fall apart past 100,000 miles.Maybe yours slipped so much your mark isn't close either.

if its that far off at tdc then you have bent valves...but im willing to bet you arent at tdc with #1 if its 3 inches off....spin it again and see where the mark lies....it can take up to 6 turns for everything to line up, balance shafts, oil pump, cams and crank...but i think every 2 turns the crank and pulleys line up....so spin it again...and make sure you guys arent lining up the wrong cam gear marks

 

[AL92]

I put a mark at the notches at least think they are the notches they are not very deep at all.And also put a mark under the tdc point.I then jumperer timing plug.But heres the weird thing.I can't get the marks to stay steady they rotate around counterclockwise.Now maybe its something to do with my timing light its a digital advance thing so mabye I have something set weird or something.Only other thing I can think of is its separated to the point the marks don't stay steady.Is this what happens as the crank balancer goes.Your timing marks start slding around and would think it would also make the alt and other accessories have some problems too.
Also I double checked the cam sensor in case it was installed 180 out.Appears to be in there properly.They sure could have made the timing marks a bit more obvious on the balancer they seem to be just tiny notches.
Anyone have any pics to confirm I even have the proper balancer on my car..I am starting to wonder.I found a tiny nick notch on the middle of balancer and simlar one on innermost ridge but nothing on the other edge of it.Not very easy to read it seems to me.