The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network - View Single Post

**mr48chev** · 02-20-2018, 03:20 PM

The whole reason for using a timing tape is knowing that you have the exact or as close to exact TDC position marked.

The best way is to do it before you put the head on but a lot of the time that isn't possible. The rubber or plastic tube trick that Dsraven gave works pretty well just don't use anything that is hard or anything that can break off.

The true and proper way would be to use a piston stop in the spark plug hole, turn the crank by hand one way. mark where it stopped on the damper, turn it back the other way until it stops in the other direction and mark that spot and split the difference and that is your TDC mark. Some guys hull out a spark plug and weld a bolt or piece of rod in it that will be where the piston stops against it to do that. Or spend a bunch of bucks to buy the tool to do it.

02-20-2018, 03:20 PM	#7
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,819	Re: how to place timimg tape? The whole reason for using a timing tape is knowing that you have the exact or as close to exact TDC position marked. The best way is to do it before you put the head on but a lot of the time that isn't possible. The rubber or plastic tube trick that Dsraven gave works pretty well just don't use anything that is hard or anything that can break off. The true and proper way would be to use a piston stop in the spark plug hole, turn the crank by hand one way. mark where it stopped on the damper, turn it back the other way until it stops in the other direction and mark that spot and split the difference and that is your TDC mark. Some guys hull out a spark plug and weld a bolt or piece of rod in it that will be where the piston stops against it to do that. Or spend a bunch of bucks to buy the tool to do it. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.