oh no! 351help!

[11sec87]

finally got the car up and running to drive to the ford challenge in st. louis.
BIG PROBLEM. when i set the timing by timinglight last night its 40degrees off!
I used two different lights then set the engine to mechanical tdc, STILL 40 degrees off at the balancer..this is a new sfi balancer. the car sounds mean, but I dont dare drive 130 mile with a balance problem. does anyone know if ford used different timeing markers(different locations of lenghts) that might explain the 40degrees?

 

[393Bird]

I would guess that you have a pointer and balancer that are not compatable. You maqy have to either get a pointer for the other side, or get one of those timing tape, and remark it, then spray some clear coat over the tape.

 

[11sec87]

did the 351w have a timeing tab on either side? this is a 84 block.
Q. is there a difference in the 302/351 timing tabs? i wonder if i grabbed the wrong one from my shelf?
TIP- never move while trying to build a motor!!!!

 

[393Bird]

Not sure, but I think they did both ways. The reason I think so, is my SFI damper from Ford Racing, has 2 sets of marks for different pointers. I was masking mine to paint a narrow line at 12 and 32 deg, and just spotted the second set in time to not paint the wrong ones. Good luck.

 

[11sec87]

i have a summit balancer, it also has the second set of numbers.
its close enough that i can see 0 thru the hole at the lower end of the pointer when the arrow is on 40. i have the bottle on the car and really want a good reading. IF ANYBODY KNOWS OF A DIFFERENCE IN A 302 vs351W TIMING TAB PLEASE DROP A NOTE,

THANKS

 

[11sec87]

ATTN 351W GUYS!

SIMPLE QUESTION CAN BE A BIG HELP.

ON YOUR 351W WHERE IS THE ARROW ON YOUR TIMING TAB?
I MAY HAVE A WRONG ONE GIVING ME A HEADACHE.

IS IT BETWEENTHE TWO ATTACHING BOLTS OR ABOUT 1 1/2" TO THE RIGHT OF THE TOP BOLT? PICS WOULD BE A BIG PLUS.

THANKS GUYS

 

[393Bird]

Here is a shot of mine.

To make sure you are using the correct marks, bring #1 up to TDC compression with the spark plug out.

This is what mine looks like. Use the tip at the top of the pointer, not the center or bottom holes.