1. With an A timing cover on a Model A or Model B engine block, one can time the Model B distributor with geometry, using a hand made fixed sheet metal pointer securely fastened to the timing cover and pointing over 12:00 o'clock on the crankshaft pulley.
2. When the pin slips in at top dead center, (TDC), on the Model A timing cover, mark the top rear of the crankshaft pulley with (3) a corner file at 12:00 o'clock.
3. To obtain a mark for determining degrees before top dead center, (BTDC), a similar mark can be provided on the top rear of the same pulley on the pulley's driver's side of the first mark; but how far away should this second mark be from the first (TDC) mark measured in inches? Let's call this distance in inches on the Circumference of the crankshaft pulley Z .
4. Next, first determine: D = Pulley Diameter; Pi = 3.141; C = Pulley Circumference; N = Number of Degrees in a circle or in the pulley Circumference = 360 degrees; Number of degrees desired before top dead center = (XBTDC) or X .
5. if D = 5"; then C = Pi x D or C = 3.141 x 5", hence C = 15.706" for a 5" pulley.
6. If X = 16 degrees (BTDC); & N = 360 degrees, we can find the percentage of N that X is of C, or in other words that 16 degrees is of the whole circle or the percentage of C; call this percentage of the Circumference Y. Therefore, Y = X / N; hence Y = 16 degrees divided by 360 degrees & 16 / 360 = .0444, then Y = .0444.
7. Now that Y = .0444, we can convert this percentage into inches on the Circumference of the pulley to find Z ; hence, if C = 15.706", then Y x C = .0444 x 15.706" = .698". Therefore Z = .698"
8. If 11/16" = .6875"; & 3/4" = .750"; with Z being near 11/16", one can see that Z will be very close to 11/16".
9. Provide a (BTDC) mark on the crankshaft pulley approximately 11/16" on the passenger's side of the (TDC) mark, if 16 degrees (BTDC) is desired.