allmost impossible to read timing tab

[kikkegek]

hi guys,

I wanted to check and maybe adjust my timing tonight. And I have to say...what idiot designed the place where the timing tab is at?

I have to climb on my front bumper with one foot, then keep my balance with my other, hold my carb with one hand and then try to push my timing light in between my waterpump and engine and try too look past it to read my timing...






I am considering buying and installing an aftermarket timing tab...something like this...




but I think it will be hard to install? do I have to remove pully's or otyher parts? Or can I reach the mounting points with everything in place?


or....is there an easier way to check timing?

I want to check:

- initial
- mechanical
- total timing @ ~3,000 rpm
(and vacuum advance)....

[J Knight]

The best thing to do is spay some degreaser on the tab and wrap a long screwdriver with a rag to clean the tab. You should be able to read it enough after that to get it timed.

[chrismoore701]

Put a mark on the timing tab to show you zero and work from there

[giles70chevy]

go over the timing groove in your harmonic balancer with white chalk too. it'll show up really good then...

[kikkegek]

Hahaha, thanks guys. That is not my problem. My biggest problem is that it is in an impossible location. I can read it just fine. thanks. But it takes acrobatics to do so. Is there no easier way?
Posted via Mobile Device

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by kikkegek

Hahaha, thanks guys. That is not my problem. My biggest problem is that it is in an impossible location. I can read it just fine. thanks. But it takes acrobatics to do so. Is there no easier way?
Posted via Mobile Device

LOL!! Not really, other than having a friend turn the distributer while you watch the mark.

[csb#356]

I always just sat up next to the radiator in the engine compartment and was able to adjust timing just fine. maybe not the safest but it worked.

[54Caddy]

mine is the same way. I always have just reched over and looked at it while holding the dissy and moving it while hanging over the radiator support. just make sure some one is there to tell you if your close to hitting the fan.

[donut]

Not sure about the aftermarket tabs, you may be able to get it on.
Be aware, timing marks on these trucks were in the 12:00 or 2:00 position. IIRC, a bunch of the aftermarket tabs were for the 2:00 position, you will have to re-mark your balancer for the new tab. (verify TDC. etc.)

I've moved them in the past, but I've had the fan removed along with belts and lower pulley.

[TheApocalyptican]

I too have had this same problem. Fun huh? My solution....lower your Suburban . In all seriousness tho, don't think there is much we can do about it.

Also, on the chalk idea, what works better is using a paint pen. I used a pink paint pen on the mark on the balancer, and it's still as visible as the day I put it on there, which was more than a year ago.

[kikkegek]

thanks guys, I'll report back if I have some results...

[kikkegek]

I shot some pics last night and I think I should be able to mount a timing tab to the two bolts you can see in this image on the timing cover.

[kikkegek]

I did it.

bought a timing tab for 8" balancer from mr. gasket and installed it 2nite:

[Your41Plague12]

That will work fine as long as your timing mark on your balancer doesn't point to the 12 o clock position at TDC, like a lot of SBC's did. They either pointed to 12 or 2 o clock.

[Cramitthefrog]

Did you verify that the new tabs TDC lines up with the motor being at TDC?
I changed one out and the new tab was 4 full degrees off of top dead. Just a thought.

[kikkegek]

hi guys. Of course I need to mark a new TDC mark...mine is now a 12 oclock and this one if of...so I'l set it to TDC using the old mark and tab and then mark a new mark for this tab..

thanks though!

[kikkegek]

did it today!

made my own timing tape for my 8" balancer... 18mm per 10 degrees...

My initial timing was set at 11 BTDC (without the vacuum advance).

My total timing at unknown rpm was 32 BTDC. My Equus 3568 timing light is digital and isnt able to read RPM with the MSD 6AL connected.

Because LPG is allowed a little more advance, I adjusted to 14 BTDC and total timing advanced to about 34.

I then added the vacuum again and idle timing was something like 20-25? jumping al over the scale...

for some reason sometimes when increasing the rpm's the the timing was stuck at about 15-20 rpm....I then had to re-increase the rpm's and then I was able to normally read the timing again....I think this is because the Timing light isnt always able to read the sparks correctly of the pickup...

any body else have experience with this?

the problem is, that now my car is running perfectly on LPG, but almost wont run on regular gas...what timing are you guys using for regular gas?

I read somewhere that because my engine had all the smog-stuff connected that is might need different timing, because of lower compression? anybody know about that?

[Cramitthefrog]

It sounds like you are hooked up to manifold vacuum and it is pulling more advance at idle. Try the ported side and also pull off the cap and make sure everything is moving freely. On my gas 400 motor I am running 8 BTDC and a total of 34 at about 3000 rpm with the vaccum advance unhooked. I also verified TDC by pulling #1 spark plug and inserting a wire so when someone rotates the motor over you can feel exactly when it has hit TDC, then check the mark. That is how I found out my mark was not on.

[MalibuSSwagon]

I never had a problem reading the stock timing tab. Had to clean it first of course. I just looked straight down where you see the little tube right above it, perfect. Was able to read timing and adjust the dizzy myself.

[oily]

Anybody know what the little tube is for?

[kikkegek]

Originally Posted by oily

Anybody know what the little tube is for?

I was told it is to hold some tool, but havent got around to finding it...

anybody?

[motornut]

i thought it just put you reading it at the right angle,not from the side