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Author Topic: Timing Issues  (Read 3287 times)

Offline jksef1984

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Timing Issues
« on: January 31, 2022, 12:20:33 am »
Hey everyone looking for some advice here on a timing issue.
Specs:
Brand new GM crate 350 in a 1984 stepside
Rebuilt quadrajet
Brand new stock electric distributor (Cali smog requirement)
Brand new OEM replacement balancer
Verified TDC on compression stroke, balancer marker lines up with 0 on timing mark indicator mounted on timing cover. Distributor rotor points at #1 cylinder.
Spark plug wires correctly in order
4 wire plug at distributor disconnected

Problem - can’t time using timing light

Using a vacuum gauge I can get the timing into the green zone and the engine sounds great but I can’t even see the balancer mark? Any ideas what may be going on?

I need to smog the truck after a 7 year frame off resto and this is the only thing holding me back.
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Offline bd

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Re: Timing Issues
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2022, 09:17:52 am »
Are you triggering the timing light off of the driver side, front spark plug?
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Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline jksef1984

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Re: Timing Issues
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2022, 02:20:04 pm »
Yes sir that is correct. Double checked all plug wires too.
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Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: Timing Issues
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2022, 02:39:23 pm »
How old is the timing light? I have had them fail... :(
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1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline bd

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Re: Timing Issues
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2022, 03:53:24 pm »
Does the strobe flash at all?  Assuming an inductive pickup, try clipping to #1 near the distributor.  Also, try reversing the orientation of the pickup on the wire.
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Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline jksef1984

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Re: Timing Issues
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2022, 07:29:25 pm »
Thought it was the light too so I bought a brand new one from the auto parts store. Granted it’s a cheap expensive piece of junk and may be bad, I’ll probably take it back and see if I can get another one just to be safe.
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Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: Timing Issues
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2022, 08:13:49 pm »
Quote from: jksef1984 on January 31, 2022, 07:29:25 pm
Thought it was the light too so I bought a brand new one from the auto parts store. Granted it’s a cheap expensive piece of junk and may be bad, I’ll probably take it back and see if I can get another one just to be safe.

So you think the new one might be bad? Confused ???

What about bd's other questions?
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1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline MIKE S

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Re: Timing Issues
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2022, 08:23:57 pm »
You say you bought a new balancer. If you bought it for a 84 I believe the tab was originally behind the water pump almost straight up. Early small blocks and later TBI are on the driver side. Is the balancer matched to the correct tab location?
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Offline jksef1984

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Re: Timing Issues
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2022, 08:40:28 pm »
It’s a brand new timing light, I’ll try BD’s suggestion. The timing cover on the number matching 305 had the pointer on the driver side same as the GM crate 350.
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Offline MIKE S

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Re: Timing Issues
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2022, 09:15:42 pm »
Look at your original balancer keyway in relation to the timing mark. Compare it to the new one and see if is the same. Point the timing light behind the water pump at the balancer and see if the line on balancer is near.
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Offline jksef1984

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Re: Timing Issues
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2022, 10:12:23 pm »
Thanks for the advice Mike I’ll check it and will get back to you.
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Offline jksef1984

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Re: Timing Issues
« Reply #11 on: February 05, 2022, 02:04:55 pm »
Ok everyone I used a piston stop tool to identify TDC and remarked the balancer using a pointer that is bolted on the side of the timing cover (about 2:00 position). I did mark two lines after moving the crank clockwise and the counter clockwise and split the difference.

The original line on the balancer was off not by much (about 12:00) from the new line marked at the 0 on the 2:00 pointer. Check the distributor and router points at #1.

Tried timing the engine (ECM unplugged and carb tuned using vacuum gauge) with a timing light. My new mark is showing up at the 12:00 position and the engine dies when I try to get it close to the 2:00 pointer.

Any suggestions?? Thanks
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