If one's good...two ain't better

ivoryjohn

ivoryjohn

Senior Member
My timing gear had a faint, hard to detect timing-alignment dimple. A friend drilled a more substantial dimple through the timing plug hole based on what he determined as being TDC from piston position. He claimed the timing mark is a reference only and the timing needed to be advanced by feel and eyeball until it is right. I did finally get the car running right but didn't trust the timing dimple he drilled through the plug hole.

Today I pulled the timing cover and sure enough there are now two dimple--alignment markson my aluminum gear...180 degrees off[/B]! I suspect the shallow mark as being the correct alignment mark. The one drilled later by my friend is more than likely the deeper, easier to find hole in the gear.

As near as I can figure he determined TDC from the position of the #1 and #4 piston position...both up at one time. Am I correct that both could be up at the same time on either a compression or exhaust stroke?

I will align the marks by turning the engine over. pull the nut, replace the gear with one that has only one dimple and button everything up and relax.

I figure that with two timing dimples 180 degrees off a guy had no better that a 50-50 chance of getting the timing right. No wonder my car was giving me hell and backfiring hard enough to blow the exhaust gasket.

Thanks fellow barners for your input and instruction!!!!!!!
 
you can time the engine on either mark as long as you know that cylinder is on tdc on compression and the rotor is pointing at that cylinder, and paul your right, i all ways deepen and enlarge that hole with a drill so i can find it with out a problem
 
You said you've had the engine running so the timing cain't be off to far. SO, put your fat thumb in the no. one sparkplug hole. Turn the engine over untill you feel compression, now take a flashlight and look down the plug hole and you can see the edge of the piston, turn the engine so the piston is TDC, it shouldn't be far off. Now the dent in the timing gear should line up with the hole in the cover. That will be your correct timing dent. Walt
 
I tried that and it didn't work. I was pretty sure there was no mark at all but there was a very shallow one and the one drilled through the timing cover.
 
And I thought we were talking about wives! Anyway, I agree with making the mark easier to find. Drilling a hole sounds good-on O/T motors,I have also used a small dab of white or day-glo paint, but it kind of depends on whether or not you have a dimple, or a more accurate line.

You could also fill the hole and re-use the gear,saving money to spend on the aforementioned women.
 
I alway use a mirror and look for the mark and when found, daub a drop of white paint on it to make it easier to find next time.
 
Lets start a new thread! 20 Reasons Model A's are Better Than Women

1. You can fix a Model A but you can't fix a woman. They want to fix you!

2. A Model A never asks if it is getting fat!
 
ivoryjohn said:
Lets start a new thread! 20 Reasons Model A's are Better Than Women

1. You can fix a Model A but you can't fix a woman. They want to fix you!

2. A Model A never asks if it is getting fat!
Click to expand...

3. You can have more than 1 Model A.

4. It's OK for Model A owners to ride their friends' Model A's....
 
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