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Topic: Timing help

in Forum: C3 Engines

Timing help

Posted: 10/24/13 7:43pm Message 1 of 4
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Former Member
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Gainesville, FL - USA
Joined: 7/14/2012
Posts: 32
Vette(s): 1974 coupe, 1978 coupe
I'm attempting to set the timing on my 1978 L-48. I have read the discussions on initial timing and mechanical timing. Before starting an intake manifold swap I wanted to look at the initial timing. THe timing mark is barely visible at the 12 o clock position of the balancer when the light flashes. I'm not even sure what that would be. Am I a tooth off on the distributor? I want to make sure thing are right before I pull the intake. Thanks!



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Re: Timing help

Posted: 10/25/13 9:59am Message 2 of 4
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Where is the timing pointer on the engine? Is it directly behind the water pump, at 12 o'clock, with a small tube on it, or is it toward the driver side, close to the power steering pump? Some GM engine of that time had pointers straight up, with the tube....the timing equipment light at the factory would be stuck down into the tube to set the timing on their machine, but it also had other marks for "normal" timing light use.
If your pointer is on the driver side, and your light is showing the mark on the balancer at 12 o-clock, you may have the pick-up on the wrong plug wire. If the timing really was that far off, the engine prolly wouldn't run very well at all.
It's also possible that the outer ring of the balancer has slipped around on the center hub....very common. The best way to determine that is to pull the #1 plug, use a plastic straw down in the plug hole, and turn the crank until the piston is all the way up, at top dead center, using the straw to feel the piston. Then look at the mark on the balancer. It should be in the center of the large "V" groove on the pointer. If you don't see the mark at all, turn the engine over by hand until the piston is again at TDC, and see where the mark is.



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Re: Timing help

Posted: 10/25/13 8:12pm Message 3 of 4
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Former Member
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Gainesville, FL - USA
Joined: 7/14/2012
Posts: 32
Vette(s): 1974 coupe, 1978 coupe
Car runs ok. My car reads the timing from the drivers side. I knew something was screwy when I saw the timing mark so far off. I will check the balancer to see if it slipped. Hopefully there is an easy fix if that is the problem. Thanks for the input. Dennis



Re: Timing help

Posted: 10/27/13 2:15pm Message 4 of 4
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Former Member
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Gainesville, FL - USA
Joined: 7/14/2012
Posts: 32
Vette(s): 1974 coupe, 1978 coupe
Looks like the balancer has slipped. I purchased a new balancer from NAPA and a new timing chain cover seal. Watched some youtube videos and now I just need to get the new one installed. This should keep me heading in the right direction.



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