My timing is still out of whack from the problems in Mystic.
I think I have a timing light in my garage somewhere that my dad gave me with the car.
Is this something an inexperienced dummy like me can do?
If so, what is the simply, plain English way to do it?

Thanks!

Very simple. Do you have a Haynes Manuel? Step by step instructions...you can do it.

[QUOTE=Adam Wartell]My timing is still out of whack from the problems in Mystic.
I think I have a timing light in my garage somewhere that my dad gave me with the car.
Is this something an inexperienced dummy like me can do?
If so, what is the simply, plain English way to do it?

Thanks!
[/QUOTE]

My dad never GAVE me a timing light, or a CAR either for that matter.   manchestershark2009-08-03 15:12:36

go to this site ck out there how to there is a good article on timing and vacum. if you pm your email I can send you some good articles

Since we're on this topic, how and the heck do you find / see the TIMING TAB on the LS5?  It is there, but impossible to put a light on it. 

As an LS5 owner...it is a little difficult to see the tab. I have filled the timing mark on my flywheel with white paint so it is easy to see....my tab is chrome so it is even harder to see. I have to aim my light under the radiator hose and right on top of the alternator. I have to be carefull not to stick the end of my light into the fan on the alternator. No power steering so if yours has power steering that maybe worse than mine.

"Timin lite???...We don need no stink timin lite...."


The hard part on a small block Shark is getting the dang thing connected to a friggin plug wire to start with!
You need to be able to access the #1 plug wire(front plug on driver side), preferably AT the plug, but thats's a pain to do IF the wires are run correctly, so...you may have to get it connected on the distributor end(still on the #1 plug wire).
You'll also need to dis-connect and plug the vacuum line that goes to the distributor.
Then locate the timing mark on the crankshaft balancer pulley. As has already been mentioned, if you put some chalk, or paint marker, on the line for TDC on the balancer, it makes it sooooo much easier to see. You may need to "bump" the engine over to find the mark, but  you're looking for a line/groove that goes all the way across the balancer. Then, on the timing cover, drivers side, you'll see the timing "tab"...kinda looks like a saw blade, with some "V" grooves in it. One of those grooves will be larger than all the others...this is TDC, or "0". Each smaller groove indicates a + or - degree of timing. If the tab is cleanish, you'll be able to see the marks, and the numbers of degrees.
With the engine running, point the light at the timing tab, and see where the groove on the balancer is in relation to the larger "V" groove on the timing tab. IF the line on the balancer lines up with the larger groove on the timing tab, that's "0" degrees advance. If your car still has the emissions label on the firewall on the driver side, it will tell you what the timing is supposed to be, prolly around 6 degrees advanced. To get that, you'll want to move the distributor to get the balancer line to line up with the 6 degree groove on the timing tab. Turning the distributor clockwise retards the timing... turning it counterclockwise will advance the timing.
You just have to watch and make sure you don't get anything(especially your fingers) tangled up in the fan belts, or the fan, or any other moving parts!!!

Another way to set the timing, and the method I prefer, is to simply twist the distributor counter-clockwise(advance) until the engine starts running really bad, then twist it back clockwise until it just smooths out. Then drive it and make sure it doesn't "ping" on acceleration. Keep advancing it until it starts to ping, then back it off until it doesn't. Then...here's the trick...rev it up to about 3000rpms for 1-2 seconds, and with it still at that rpm, shut the key off. Then try to start it. If it fires right up, yer done. If it doesn't want to start, or it sounds like it's "kicking back", then twist the distributor clockwise just a tad, and crank it. You want the timing set so the engine will start easily when it is hot, without kicking back.
This is really easy to do....just kinda hard to explain. Anyway, if you do it this way, and the car starts fine when hot, and runs good, THEN put the timing light on it, and see where the timing is. Then you'll know where to set it with the light next time!

You could also search for Ben's "I hate timing lights" thread....

Adams' Apple2009-08-01 07:37:12

[QUOTE=Adams' Apple] "Timin lite???...We don need no stink timin lite...."


The hard part on a small block Shark is getting the dang thing connected to a friggin plug wire to start with!
You need to be able to access the #1 plug wire(front plug on driver side), preferably AT the plug, but thats's a pain to do IF the wires are ruin correctly, so...you may have to get it connected on the distributor end(still on the #1 plug wire).


[/QUOTE]

if he is lucky, his dad gave him a timing light with inductive pick up as then you want it as close to the distributor as possible. timing on my 75 is easy to do. mark on the 90 not only the timing lite needs a goose neck but so do i to see the mark.

pretty easy to do and good luck adam

[QUOTE=Adams' Apple] "Timin lite???...We don need no stink timin lite...."

You need to be able to access the #1 plug wire(front plug on driver side), preferably AT the plug

[/QUOTE]

haha!  i was just sitting here banging my head against the wall wondering what crazy acronym joel was using.   i was attempting to figure out what the letters "A" and "T"  could possibly stand for.  then it hit me....  at.

those capital letters threw me for a loop....
to me,  it seems i have no right to even own my car at this point 


Hmel '742009-08-01 14:20:09