351w timing

Treneth · Apr 10, 2020

So I have a 83 fox swapped with a 351w. Decided I would see if previous owner had timing advanced. I'm no car guru and I'll get some photos posted tomorow but there are no timing marks, theres a yellow mark with a paint stick he had made I haven't actually hooked a timing light up and even see if that yellow mark lines up with the indicator but I really dont like the idea of not knowing the degrees it's set at. Am I stuck starting from scratch and making my own timing Mark's? Can a guy safely bump it till it pings and back it off a bit? Not really sure what direction to go but i would like to play with it for better 1/4mile times.

revhead347 · Apr 10, 2020

I don't like the sound of that at all. How did they make a balancer with no timing marks on it? Is it possible it's dirty, and you can't see the marks? I'm not a fan of setting timing by ear at all. I don't see anyway of making accurate timing marks. If it were my car, it would be getting a new balancer.

Kurt

Treneth · Apr 10, 2020

revhead347 said:
I don't like the sound of that at all. How did they make a balancer with no timing marks on it? Is it possible it's dirty, and you can't see the marks? I'm not a fan of setting timing by ear at all. I don't see anyway of making accurate timing marks. If it were my car, it would be getting a new balancer.

Kurt

To me its looks like it was cleaned up and painted over, I'll get some photos tomorow and show you. Might not even be stock balancer. I'm kinda feeling that direction as well just getting new balancer but would like to hear what others have to say.

90sickfox · Apr 10, 2020

It may have been painted over. My balancer looked smooth. I ended up making the mistake of trying to use timing tape and finding TDC on my own. Got the timing close but it ended up flying off and taking a layer of paint with it. My mark was 2 degrees off where it should have been.

Treneth · Apr 10, 2020

90sickfox said:
It may have been painted over. My balancer looked smooth. I ended up making the mistake of trying to use timing tape and finding TDC on my own. Got the timing close but it ended up flying off and taking a layer of paint with it. My mark was 2 degrees off where it should have been.

So in the end you just replaced balancer is what your saying?

revhead347 · Apr 10, 2020

Treneth said:
To me its looks like it was cleaned up and painted over, I'll get some photos tomorow and show you. Might not even be stock balancer. I'm kinda feeling that direction as well just getting new balancer but would like to hear what others have to say.

That's where I'm on it. See if you can clean it off and find some markings. They are usually etched into the metal.

A new balancer is always good insurance anyway. That's a small money part that will trash an engine if it's messed up. Even if you went all out, the Pioneer SFI approved balancers are under $200. A factory replacement is under $100. The pull and install tool is a free rental.

Kurt

90sickfox · Apr 10, 2020

Treneth said:
So in the end you just replaced balancer is what your saying?

My mark's were there just the machine shop painted over them.

Treneth · Apr 11, 2020

revhead347 said:
That's where I'm on it. See if you can clean it off and find some markings. They are usually etched into the metal.

A new balancer is always good insurance anyway. That's a small money part that will trash an engine if it's messed up. Even if you went all out, the Pioneer SFI approved balancers are under $200. A factory replacement is under $100. The pull and install tool is a free rental.

Kurt

So I had a better look and yes there are some marks hardly visible, no way in hell you would ever see them with a strobe light unless there some way to revive them.
I seen a 20 and 30 degree mark and his yellow mark is before the 20degrees but I cant tell where exactly as numbers are visually gone.

Looks like I'll be replacing the balancer seems like a fairly straightforward job hoping I have enough room to use puller and installer without having to take to much apart what's your thoughts?

revhead347 · Apr 11, 2020

Usually it's getting the impact in there and the install tool that take a lot of room. I've never gotten out one out without pull the radiator. Those marks aren't great. I generally mark them with white out.

Kurt

junkyardwarrior · Apr 11, 2020

take the radiator out. Easier than pulling the engine.

General karthief · Apr 11, 2020

Try taking a wire wheel on a drill and go over the area where the mark is, an inch on each side and see if it reveals the marks.

Treneth · Apr 11, 2020

General karthief said:
Try taking a wire wheel on a drill and go over the area where the mark is, an inch on each side and see if it reveals the marks.

Yes I did consider that but even looking with my eyes up close the paint isn't even all that thick and still hardly any grooves.

90sickfox · Apr 11, 2020

Get some sand paper and some clear acrylic nail polish. Sand the paint off and coat the area with the clear coat. I had to do mine. Once you sand it the numbers will start to show up. My paint was so flaky I removed it with a razor blade and then hit it with 320 grit sand paper. I couldn't remove the balancer. ( now that I think about it ). My condenser, radiator, and intercooler share a mounting bracket and are a pain to remove.

General karthief · Apr 11, 2020

What have you got to lose?
Ok, an eye maybe if you don't use a shield

revhead347 · Apr 11, 2020

Kleenstrip from Home Depot. Wear goggles, and have some baking soda handy.

Kurt

Treneth · Apr 13, 2020

Think I can make it work, put wire wheel on grinder cleaned it up and was able to make some sense of it, his mark was at 12degrees whether it's actually there I'll have to get a light n find out, thinking I can probably use a chisel and hammer in fresh notches.

And yes I used a face shield, but not only that, safely glasses as well. Double protection lol after sitting around for years in safely meetings having that kinda stuff pounded in your head thinking it's a joke, it actually does start to brainwash you and work.

351w timing

Treneth

Member

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

Treneth

Member

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands

Treneth

Member

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands

Treneth

Member

Attachments

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

junkyardwarrior

Well-Known Member

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Treneth

Member

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

Treneth

Member

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351w timing

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Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

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Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands

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Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

Well-Known Member

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

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