85 timing tab questions?

[1972BackInBlackC10]

mud man i will be trying your method tomorrow if i can find tdc by myself hopefully fingers crossed it will all go well

[mud.man.rj]

You don't really need top dead center if it already runs, but if it doesn't or hasn't run yet you will kind of have to for the correct plug wire location, but could pull a v. cover if needed and watch the intake valve open and close then put a long screwdriver in the left/drivers side #1 piston hole and slowly turn the engine over with a bar, not the starter and when the piston pushs the srewdriver to the top just before it starts to go back down is top dead center. So turn the engine back slightly and will be around 10 degrees before top dead center, wher it actually would be correct timing on most small blocks and would at least start for you to use the vacumn gauge to time it. Sound good.

[1972BackInBlackC10]

i will do that, i was messig with the timing light and the lie on the balancer was way to left (pass side of motor) with the vac advance pointing in the direction of the heater motor kinda, then when you turn it so its pointing at number 4 cylinder you cant see the line on the balancer anymore, i even turned even further and still couldnt see it, only when its in that one position which its nowhere near the tab on the cover

so i think when i put the dist back in i didnt put it back in the right position

[mud.man.rj]

The problem with the distributor is the gear is helical cut so when you drop it back in it turns and drops in a tooth out each time so it doesn't line up, have to pull it and insert a long screwdriver down hole and turn the oil pump drive shaft slot back a 1/6th to an 1/8th of a turn the the slot will line up in the inside end of shaft and the gear will line up better as it goes into the shaft. See the problem is when you pull the dist. out of the hole it turns on the gear a part turn and also turns the oli pump shaft a part turn then when you try to put the dist. back in the same spot it won't go in but will just a bit further as the slot in shaft lines up with the slot in bottom of distrib/ so the dist is always back just a bit from where it originally was, that is why you have to turn the oil pump shaft. It would still run when turned back a bit but sometimes don't have enough room to turn the vacumn advance before it hits something. I know I think toooo much. tricks hey.

[1972BackInBlackC10]

sheesh lol so what way do i have to turn it and what kind of screwdriver? philips or? and how do i know if iv turned it enough?

list of things to do is find tdc, pull dist out, adjust the oil pump shaft, reinstall dist with rotor pointing to # 1 cylinder, hook up vac gauge, adjust timing till i reach highest point then retard timing to 2.5 - 3 on vac gauge, did i miss anything?

[mud.man.rj]

Originally Posted by 1972BackInBlackC10

sheesh lol so what way do i have to turn it and what kind of screwdriver? philips or? and how do i know if iv turned it enough?

list of things to do is find tdc, pull dist out, adjust the oil pump shaft, reinstall dist with rotor pointing to # 1 cylinder, hook up vac gauge, adjust timing till i reach highest point then retard timing to 2.5 - 3 on vac gauge, did i miss anything?

Sorry man, a straight blade, long one too, it's a ways down there. Turn it counterclockwise about an 1/8 turn then drop distrib back it to the spot you want, which is about half way between firewall and back of carb. If it drops in and is too far back still then pull it out and turn the slot a bit further, you know trail and error, haha.

[1972BackInBlackC10]

not to sound dumb but what part is supposed to be half way between the firewall and carb, and im not sure i know what you mean by half way between the firewall and carb either lol i feel dumb