Here is a photo showing what I believe is the stock timing pointer for the original damper. I circled it in the photo. Can anyone tell me what to expect on the damper? Does the stock one typically just have a single line, or a few marks. I plan to clean it up this weekend to check. Thanks.
The stock one usually isn't where it used to be. But had a grid and will probably have to be cleaned well to read it.
to start with I just bring number 1 piston to compression TDC and see what it's lining up with. if it's the original damper the outer ring may have slipped.
I rigged up my remote starter to the car. The clips were small so I placed a clamp from a set of jumper cables on the positive side of the battery and clipped onto the clamp. I placed the other clip on the “S” side of the starter solenoid. Pictures shown. After testing the start button I was able to crawl under the car front of the car which was sitting on ramps. I saw no marks on the harmonic balancer, but after one hit on the start button, the timing marks came into view. I ordered a piston stop and plan to use it to help find TDC. ( turning the engine with a bar and a socket).
After bumping the starter button the timing marks showed up. The shot was taken from underneath the car looking upward. I could see all the marks clearly.
If it has a timing pointer, marks are/were on damper(at least from factory). I've never seen a 221, 260, 289, 302 or 351W engine that didn't have a marked balancer.
well then I need to have my SO come look. She normally finds all the other things I swear are missing........
I tried to time the engine but there was such a small gap to view the pointer that I painted a wider line at 6 degrees BTDC and tried it again. I loosened the hold down and reset the timing for 6 degrees BTDC. I could make out the thicker white line this time. The idle increased and it smoothed out. I believe the timing was less than this when I started. I’ll drive it at this setting for a while then try advance it a bit more.