I'm back on the road - SORT OF

[samuellg1977]

Hey, Y'all. I just finished my first ever engine build in my garage with Google, a little bit o moonshine, a lot of beer, and a splash of profanity. She runs, drives and to my amazement DOESN'T LEAK ANYTHING!! My problem is this: I forgot to put my timing marks back on the motor before I got it all assembled - AND INSTALLED. Now, that she has fired off and runs, I need to figure out what the idle speeds should be. In park and in gear on the brake. Right now, it "sounds good", but i know it isn't right. I have a mild street cam from Summit 272/282 Duration, .442/.465 lift. I have a tach that is going in tomorrow, that way I can get it set right and start enjoying the old girl again. Thanks for any help you all can provide.

Sam

[Rich 5150 69]

Timming marks would make life easier.......or you could take #1 plug out, use a piston stop made from a old spark plug, weld a half inch long bolt to the end of the plug, install it in the engine, rotate the engine by hand first one direction til it stops and then the other direction til it stops, ( note to self make sure you on compression stroke ) divide that distance in half from stop point to stop point , that will be your top dead center mark, locate it somewhere where you can see it on the block with a timing light.....

[Captainfab]

Depending on which small block you have and which balancer, there are bolt on timing tabs available. It shouldn't be too big of a job to bolt one on, providing your balancer is the correct one.

[samuellg1977]

I got the tab in. Took some worming to get it in there, but it is done. I got it timed up and now, i have a squealing noise from the trans when i give it throttle. Not sure what the issue is, but gonna tear into it again today and see what is going on in there. If it isn't an obvious defect that i can SEE from underneath, I may be in trouble. I have a TH400 to put in it, but i don't want to fart with the driveshaft and getting it cut to fit.

[samuellg1977]

DOH!!! It wasn't the transmission at all... The crossmember bolts were broken. I think I got them too tite!! Anyways, the crossmamber slid and the driveshaft was rubbing the yoke on the frame. Thanks GOD it wasn't the transmission... THAT THING IS HEAVY!!! And i wasn't looking forward to replacing it!!!