Help with setting timing on Prof. Prod Balancer

[Synned]

Whats up guys.
I'm almost done this intake swap...but the car is running rough so I tried to restab the distributor. Now it won't run so I figured I stabbed it way off....

What I do:
Crank (bump) the car till my dad feels compression and I quit cranking...problem is at this point I see two strips of timing on the balancer.

I'm pretty sure it looks like this:

Motor Rotation
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
---------BTDC----.................----------ATDC------
0 10 20 30 40 ....................0 10 20 30 40

Am I supposed to be getting to 0* BTDC?
Why do the marks for btdc start at 0 and go to 40?
Maybe someone can help me.

 

[tjh566]

crank it until you see 0* at the pointer on the balancer, then stab the disto in and make it point to wheres its firing #1.

 

[Synned]

crank it until you see 0* at the pointer on the balancer, then stab the disto in and make it point to wheres its firing #1.

I know, but the thing is theres TWO timing strips not one on this balancer.

 

[Stanger007]

Whats up guys.
I'm almost done this intake swap...but the car is running rough so I tried to restab the distributor. Now it won't run so I figured I stabbed it way off....

Here's how I've done it many times...

1. Pull off #1 plug (front, passenger side)
2. Hand rotate clockwise w/ a bar on the balancer bolt OR via the starter
3. Put end of screwdriver or carefully put thumb over #1 spark plug hole

You'll hear the compression sneaking around the partially plugged hole as the piston comes up on the compression stroke

4. Continue to hand turn the engine till the piston is at the top of the hole. You can stop turning periodically and stick a screwdriver down the hole to feel how far up the piston is. Don't leave the screwdriver in the hole as you bring the piston up.

5. Look at the balancer - the timing mark should be at 0* BTDC when the piston is at the top of the hole. If it isn't you have timing chain issues or worse.

6. Stab the distributor in, orienting the rotor at about 12 o'clock to accomodate for the rotor turning as it meshes with the cam gear.

The rotor will end upin the #1 position on the cap which is about 1 o'clock'ish. I like to put some assembly lube or bearing grease on the distributor gear before I mesh it in with the cam.

7. Reinstall #1 plug/wire.

8. Have someone crank the car while you turn the distributor by hand to get it to fire up.

9. With a timing light set the timing to 10* BTDC for stock setting or higher (13-14*) for more performance with premium fuel.

It's alive!

Wes