My harmonic balancer is all rusted on tha outside and I don't really know what to look for anyhow... all i can see is a line just above tha pointer... whats that mean? i dunno how to check for TDC or anythin... anyone help me out?
Use a wire brush or some emory cloth and get the rust off the balancer so you can see the mark, it will make it much easier. Then I use a paint marker to mark TDC and 10 degrees, and so on so you can see where you are.
If you hit it with a wire brush or some emory paper you will see all the marks that are engraved in the balancer. It is engraved on the outside surface that you see if looking down in the engine bay.
Clean all the way around - you'll find it. Some whiteout works great to mark the 10 degree btdc - and mark 14 as well - probably where you want to set it.
The numbers will be on the thickest part of a stock balancer.. Make sure you mark 10 degrees BTDC too.. Not ATDC lol.. It can make it easier trying it from under the car too..
it all depends on the car. two stangs, each modded the same, with the same miles, could run different timing. there are many factors that allow pinging, so trial and error is the best. bump it till you hear pinging at ANY time, and back it off a smidge (and continue backing it off) till you hear no more pinging EVER.
FWIW, i run 15* in winter, 10 in summer (87 octane at all times). like i said, that does not mean much to you though.
good luck.