timing mark and pointer missing

[gideup]

Wanted to check the timing on my 68 289 today. Hooked up a timing light and much to my surprise the timing pointer is missing. The timing marks are so worn on the pulley that all I can see is a cut line in the side of the pulley.

looking for a plan B on this. Replace the crank pulley?? Where do I get the pointer from? How does the pointer mount to the water pump or if not the pump then what?

 

[D.Hearne]

The pointer is cast into the timing cover on a 289, just below the left or driver's side of the waterpump. The marks that it points to are located on the Harmonic Balancer not the pulleys.

 

[gideup]

I guess the use of the word pulley was a bad choice. I did mean the harmonic balancer.
I cleaned off the face of the cover below the pump and don't see any marks other than the cast metal fins that stiffen the casting. The balancer has a hub between the block and the larger diameter portion. Are the marks on the hub or the portion out in front of the hub?

 

[D.Hearne]

The marks are stamped into the larger diameter portion , usually have to hunt for them, by cleaning the rust and/or paint off. The timing pointer is just below the water pump, and about at the 1-2 O'clock position just above the crank. It's about a 1/4" protrusion about 3/4 inch long. You do have a passenger side inlet waterpump don't you?

 

[TrojanMike67]

I have the same problem on my 351w motor. I asked a couple of friends and most of them recommended timing tape. Summit sells it for pretty cheap: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=SUM-164595

Mike

 

[68GEETEE]

try to brighten the numbers on the balancer using a white or yellow crayon, makes it easier to read when setting the timing.

 

[gideup]

yes passenger side inlet. The marks on the HB seem to be gone its just scally surface rust. There is no protusion on the timing cover at 1 to 2 oclock position that I can see.
anybody have a pic?

 

[D.Hearne]

I've got a picture but it doesn't show the pointer real well, and I never have figured how to post pics here. The picture I have is a head on view and the pointer is kind of hard to see.

 

[Edbert]

Screw the timing marks and those strobe lights, time your ignition with a vacuum gauge instead.

 

[gideup]

you could email the pic to me if you don't mind.
[email protected]

 

[D.Hearne]

you could email the pic to me if you don't mind.
[email protected]

Email and picture sent

 

[blue66tang]

Screw the timing marks and those strobe lights, time your ignition with a vacuum gauge instead.

Vacum gage? Do tell

 

[gideup]

thanks for the pic, it helps!

 

[my66coupe]

A vac guage is a really easy way to get your timing down, plug it into a manifold vacumm port and turn the distributor until you get the highest reading. you can also get some extra vac from your mixture screws....

Mike

 

[D.Hearne]

Only one small problem with using a vacuum gage: Yea it's set for optimum at idle, but what about the rest of the rpm range? Might not be perfect at WOT.

 

[Edbert]

Of course you have the same issues with the timing light, it is also set at idle. Where your timing is at any given RPM is based on your centrifugal or vacuum advance anyhow and is not where/what you time the engine to at idle.

What I usually do is adjust for maximum vacuum at idle and then back of about 0.5-0.75 inch or so, that makes it about perfect for the meat of the RPM range. Asuming your distro is curved right it should be fine for anything below 6,000 RPMs or so. Beyond 6K you are not using stock timing marks and components anyhow

 

[colt65]

Ok so what if you don't have a vacuum hookup on the intake, what then? Any way to reestablish the timing marks on the pulley?

 

[my66coupe]

The vac port is on your carb, Just pull off your vaccum lines until you find one that wissles or is sucking in air with the engine running of course.