Adjusting the timing

[skokie]

I installed a new balancer on the 350. The old balancer had the timing mark lined up with the keyway slot.The new one has the keyway slot lined up at just about 10 degrees. I pulled the distributor and pointed the oil pump to #1 and reinstalled it with the rotor pointing to #1. When I started up the truck to set the timing I noticed that when I set it to 10 degrees it was running rough so I got out my vac guage and it shows 16-17. So I adjusted the distributor until I got 18 then stopped. According to my timing light this is about 15-16 degrees. How can I check to make sure that 15-16 degrees is correct?

Thanks

[Ironhead]

This is how I set up and adjust timing on a small block. Kinda lengthy...

Pull #1 plug and use a compression guage to easily show the compression stroke while you are in the cab turning the key to bump the motor over or under the hood with a remote starter. You know without a doubt you are on the compression stroke when you start seeing pressure on the guage. Stop just as soon as you do. I inset a straw or a unsharpened wooden pencil in the spark plug hole and roll the engine and adjusting the straw until it stops at the top. Look at the timing mark and tab. If they dont line up at 0º, make a new line across the balancer with a white or yellow paint stick or chalk. Roll the motor backwards (counter clock-wise) about 15 degrees or so then turn it forward again until the degree that you want. Let's say 8º BTDC depending on your year and assuming it's an automatic. I line up the oil pump shaft slot to point to #5 intake or close as you can guess by pointing a screwdriver at the #5 intake manifold runner. Install your distributer cap on the body and mark #1 cylinder position. Remove the cap and turn the rotor to your mark and rotate it counter clock-wise about 1 11/16" if points-type or 2 1/4" for HEI. Drop in the distributor and when seated it should line up in #1 firing position again. Noting the closest lobe on the dist shaft, turn the rotor to the point where the points just start to open. Tighten done the clamp just enought to hold it. You should be ready to start it up. With the vac advance hose off, check your timing with a light for final adjustment and tighten down clamp. Reinstall vac line, check that the dist. is advancing when you give it a little throttle. Good luck...

[jhow66]

You cannot use the old timing tab with the later model balancer. You can if you use the 10* mark on old tab as your new TDC mark(0*). Put the line on balancer on the 10* mark and install your dist. as before (rotor point to #1 plug wire on cap. Then if you want to run 10* intial timing, your mark will 4* off the tab(if your old tab reads 16*).

[skokie]

Here is the timing tab I have.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku

[skokie]

I get it now. Pics say it all. Gotta love that rebuilding small blocks book