timing tab/mark help!

[tonyk72]

Where on earth do I find the timing mark!?
I know where my timing tab is, and I've bumped the engine several times to try and locate the timing mark on the damper...but no luck. Does anybody have any pics of what it should look like? Do I even have one? I'm a newbie to this stuff, so any help would be much appreciated...

 

[JonM]

There are lines on the damper...take a piece of chalk or crayon and lightly go over the edge, as if you were doing a gravestone rubbing. Have you tried hooking the timing light up, starting the car then showing the light on the marks?

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Hi: You're timing tab is bolted to the timing chain cover & extends just over the crankshaft damper (located between the lower engine pulley & the olwer front timing chain cover) on the driver's side of the engine. On the damper is a line that is cut into it. Many mechanics will mark it with a colored (mostly yellow) greese pen, so that it can be easily seen. The tab has little cut out notches in it (looks like little points). If you clean it up (might be dirty or greasy), you will notice that there are numbers on the tab associated with the little cut-outs & points & the words "Before" & "After". Look for the "Zero". That is top dead center of the crank. The word after should be just above the zero mark & before will be just below it. the little numbers should read 2,4,6,8,10 etc. these are the degree markings of either before top dead center or after top dead center. Most small blocks are timed anywhere from 4 to 8 degrees BTDC, although some will go as high as 10 or 12 degrees. If you don't have this tab, you might consider putting one on. Good luck Dave

 

[Chas]

theres a "slot" about 1/16th wide that goes from the front to the back on the outer edge of the harmonic balancer....not gonna look like a mark more than a groove in it...best way to see it is to put the timing light on and shine it on the mark....you will see it then ...im sure ......no real need to make it brighter with a chalk mark but after you see it ...run some chalk or a white crayon on it to highlight it

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Tony: I've got a '72 also. If you have any more questions about your's, just let me know & I'll do my best to help 'ya out. I completely tore mine down to nothing & rebuilt it. I learned alot about this year from doing that. All I need now is a real nice paint job & a couple of odds & ends & I'll be on my way!

Dave

 

[clar2001]

I use white out yes like for correcting office mistakes,stays on for ever has a little brush to apply and most hoseholds usly have some, I mark the harmonic ballancer(that you guys cal the damper)and I usly mark the 0 degree and 8 & 12 then its real easy to find your setting with the light .............

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Yeah: I only called it the "damper" 'cause the original post called it that (didn't want to make the explaination confusing). I refer to it as it's rightful name: "Harmonic Balancer" The white out is a good one. I usually don't do any marking of the balancer, 'cause after you've done it so many times, you'll know what to look for & after you've done engine timing a million times, you find that you can probably do it in your sleep :z

 

[tonyk72]

Thanks for all your help guys!
Jon, I tried the timing light already...and pointed it at the where I think I should (see pic)...
I got the light from e-bay, its a Craftsman w/ the advance feature. It does seem like it works, but maybe it was too bright outside...I couldn't see the "timing mark" at all...

So what I called a "damper" is actually the harmonic balancer? I circled it in blue on the pic. I just want to make sure we are all talking about the same thing here...Is this where I should see the timing mark? I also made a yellow line of where I should expect to see it...I haven't seen any slots or grooves cut into this area at all...

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Tony: Wrong place. You've marked the lower pulley. The balancer is the orange round thingie right behind the black pulley. The timing tab is directly over the balancer. Bump the starter & you should see a groove cut into the balancer. that's the timing mark you're looking for. If need be, clean off the balancer surface, as it looks a little dirty & greasy. Let me know what you find.

Dave

 

[tonyk72]

OK, I found it...
another pic for any newbies for reference on where to find it...
yellow arrow points it out...

And for tomorrow, I'll check the timing.

 

[clar2001]

thats it put a white stripe on it and you will easly see it with the timing gun
just incase hook gun to #1 plug thats the one on drivers side closest to the front..

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Tony: There 'ya go! I knew you had it in you. Now, go & get that well deserved beverage!

Dave:

 

[Jack]

Yep ... that's it. As the others suggest ... paint it.

With timing light zeroed & attached to #1 sp wire ... the mark should be visible ... it's a narrow groove cut from front to back of damper's outer ring. If you're hooked up right & you still can't find it ... that's an indication your timing tab is a mismatch for your damper ... or ... your damper's outer ring had slipped.

Torsional/harmonic/balancer/damper ... six of one ... half-a-dozen of the other. I believe you'll find that GM docs refer to em as dampers. In reality, the damper does not balance the motor ... it does as its name implies ... it dampens torsional vibrations (crank twisting). My stroker 388 based on 350-383 has a counterweighted damper ... its counterweight is needed .. but that counterweighted damper does not balance the motor (same goes for 454 & up OE BBC) ... balancing was achieved same way as any other ... by adding/subtracting weight from crank itself. Call it a balancer or damper ... I use either sometimes.
JACK:gap

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Jack: If this guys having a hard time locating the mark with the light, could be the car may have an aftermarket cam. Possible that the cam wasn't degreed-in right. Forgot to ask him how the car runs. Also, too, possible that he may end up using timing tape. Whatta think?

Dave

 

[Jack]

Jack: If this guys having a hard time locating the mark with the light, could be the car may have an aftermarket cam. Possible that the cam wasn't degreed-in right. Forgot to ask him how the car runs. Also, too, possible that he may end up using timing tape. Whatta think?Dave

As far as the timing mark location is concerned ... I don't think it'd make a whole lotta difference what cam or how it was degreed. The mark is simply an index mark referencing top dead center of #1 cylinder. TDC is TDC ... regardless. The TDC mark/groove is the reference point by which ignition timing is set. Advance or retard the cam timing ... the ignition timing still shouldn't range too far from 10*-12* BTDC at low speed w/ vac plugged. True, if the cam is advanced ... the compression will likely increase ... and may need a bit more ignition timing advance ... but not gobs.
JACK:gap