Tricks to locate TDC

harleytoprock said:
The problem with that spark plug hole tool is that the spark plug hole is not over the piston on the Model A.
Click to expand...

Haha, that's what happens when a Newb tries to make a suggestion. :o:o All I had to do is look at my engine and know THAT wouldn't work. LMAO...

I'll slink back to my Y-Blocks now.
 
If it is a running engine (meaning that it is capable of running), rotate the engine with the crank while observing the distributor rotor. As it comes around counter-clock wise, stop when it almost points to the right head light. With a small mirror and a flash light look into the timing pin hole and rotate the engine more until the dimple in the cam gear is centered in the hole.

This can be accomplished by standing inside the bumper with mirror and flashlight in hand. Push the crank handle down with your knee for the last bit of engine rotation.

I paint the dimple in the cam gear with some red finger nail polish to make it easier to see.

Tom Endy
 
Another permanent solution is to buy a set of gaskets for the front timing gear cover, take off the generator and the front timing gear cover, and bore out the dimple a bit. Next time you try to time with the standard pin it will work the way Henry designed it!
 
I've never had a gear where I couldn't feel the dimple with the stock timing pin. I don't like to modify good original parts, so if you feel the need for a sharper point, I'd use the point on a phillips screwdriver as the timing pin.
 
I've made a manometer before to find TDC on my flattie with a rubber bung or cork and a length of 1/4 or 3/8" hose with some oil in it.
 
I've never had a problem finding the dimple on original or older gears. Most of the repro gears have too small of a dimple . I always enlarge the dimple on repro cam timing gears before installation. If all of the spark plugs are not removed, it gets harder to turn just before it reaches the dimple and will cause a person to go right past the mark without even noticing it because they are having to fight the comprerssion . With the plugs all removed the engine can be easily turned with the fan on a well broke in engine with no damage to the fan. Not telling anybody what to do, just what I have done in some cases if I didn't have a hand crank when needed.
 
This won't be of any use to Slotblog now that his engine is assembled but I used to slightly enlarge the dimple in the cam shaft gear before I assemble the motor. I now find TDC using a plate bolted over the cylinder with a bolt in it which stops the piston before the top of its stroke. make a temporary mark on the pulley opposite a wire on the timing cover when the piston hits the stop in either direction, then permanently mark the mid point.
As for your current problem, make sure you approach TDC slowly with the timing pin held in firmly. It is easy to go past if you are impatient.
GOOD LUCK
 
Using a couple of tricks posted to this thread, no. 1 son and I got the Tudor timed and installed some of the new parts I bought after driving this car home from Oregon to Georgia. Car runs very well and we spent a couple of hours cruising the neighborhood and visiting some local friends.

Thanks to everyone for their advice and assistance!
 
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Since you just put in a new distributor, you shouldnt have to mess with it for a while....but just for future reference:
If the car was running correctly, before you start, roll the engine around where #1 is about to fire, just like you were timing it...THEN pull the old distributor. Its going to be real close to TDC. Just make sure you dont turn the motor before you get ready to put it back, or you will have to go through the whole drill of finding TDC and starting over.
I hope you have the old distributor just as you pulled it out. You now have a good drop in spare. All you have to do is take note of where the rotor button is pointing when you pull the old one out and put it right back. Forget the finding tdc and all that, its not necessary, as long as it came out of that engine, it will only go back one way, and it will be timed correctly. If you dick with the points cam, or change the shaft, etc. , all bets are off and this advice wont work. Glad you got it running.:)
 
a little off topic
i am glad your trip was successful with minor nagging issues, that must have been a fun experience.
its a good thing you did not spend to much time going over the car at the begining.. lol :D
 
It was a fun experience, Mitch.

And we did go over the car for a day. I just didn't take too many things apart during the process.

Even without the exceptional work done at Bert's, I still believe we would have made it all they way, as we'd done 1,300 miles by the time we got to Denver. But it was a much nicer car to drive after Joe Wylie worked his magic.
 
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