318 LA Rotor position and TDC questions
"Let's say" you run into trouble." "Let's say" you checked the timing with a light, the marks are correct, and it just won't run. MAYBE THE TIMING MARKS are incorrect, or MAYBE the cam is installed wrong, or (rare) we had one guy on here ended up with a reverse grind cam (marine.). And then there's stuff like pushrods holding valves open, whatever. You can run a compression check for that
TIMING MARKS: If you have parts off 'differing' engines, you might run into the trap where you have an timing cover / balancer mis-match. Ma changed all this from the pass side to the driver's side around ?? 70?? OR MAYBE the used dampener you are using SLIPPED the rubber ring
HOW TO CHECK
Buy or build a piston stop. I still have mine I built in the SEVENTIES
Disconnect the battery for safety, remove no1 plug, and make sure the piston is "down a ways." Get a socket to fit the crank bolt, and install the stop. Carefully rotate the engine (either direction) until it stops as the piston is hitting the device. Accurately make a temporary mark, onto the balancer, under the TDC mark on the timing plate.
Rotate the engine the other direction, until it stops, do the same thing. This will result in two temporary marks, and true TDC will be halfway in between, and if the factory mark is correct, that is where it will be.
Sometimes it is easier to check them by rotating the engine so the marks are on the bottom of thecar. Then crawl under, with rule or dividers, and determine "the middle"
"Let's say" you run into trouble." "Let's say" you checked the timing with a light, the marks are correct, and it just won't run. MAYBE THE TIMING MARKS are incorrect, or MAYBE the cam is installed wrong, or (rare) we had one guy on here ended up with a reverse grind cam (marine.). And then there's stuff like pushrods holding valves open, whatever. You can run a compression check for that
TIMING MARKS: If you have parts off 'differing' engines, you might run into the trap where you have an timing cover / balancer mis-match. Ma changed all this from the pass side to the driver's side around ?? 70?? OR MAYBE the used dampener you are using SLIPPED the rubber ring
HOW TO CHECK
Buy or build a piston stop. I still have mine I built in the SEVENTIES
Disconnect the battery for safety, remove no1 plug, and make sure the piston is "down a ways." Get a socket to fit the crank bolt, and install the stop. Carefully rotate the engine (either direction) until it stops as the piston is hitting the device. Accurately make a temporary mark, onto the balancer, under the TDC mark on the timing plate.
Rotate the engine the other direction, until it stops, do the same thing. This will result in two temporary marks, and true TDC will be halfway in between, and if the factory mark is correct, that is where it will be.
Sometimes it is easier to check them by rotating the engine so the marks are on the bottom of thecar. Then crawl under, with rule or dividers, and determine "the middle"
