In a message dated 04/26/2005 12:00 Central Daylight Time, Lehanover
writes:
<< In a message dated 04/25/2005 07:00 Central Daylight Time, jwvoto@itlnet.net writes:
I can look into the spark plug hole and see the apex seal go by, so are you
calling apex seal crossing leading plug TDC?
There are a number of gags to locate TDC close enough to get the engine to
run.
(1)
Remove one spark plug from number one housing. Screw a length of hose into
the plug hole. Put your tongue on the end of the hose. Gently turn over the
engine. When you get a null, where there is no pressure and no suction on your
tongue, that's TDC. Good to within a few degrees.
(2)
Or,
Bend up a piece of welding filler rod so as to make a pointer that can
touch a flywheel (flexplate) tooth. Bolt or clamp the wire to the rear
iron.
Take both plugs out of number two rotor housing.
Turn the engine until you see an apex seal in the center of the trailing
plug hole.
Bend the filler rod so that it points to the center of a flywheel tooth.
Put a white paint drop on that tooth.
Turn the engine in the running direction, until that same apex seal appears
in the center of the leading plug hole.
Put a paint drop on the tooth the rod is now pointing at.
Count the teeth between the paint dots. Divide by 2.
The point half way between the two paint dots is TDC in the number one
housing.
Good to within a few degrees.
Also, you can count the total number of teeth and divide that number into
360 to get the number of degrees per tooth. Paint the correct tooth yellow and
make the rod a permanent piece, for setting accurate timing in an easy to see
location.
(3)
Or,
(Similar to above)
Take both plugs out of number one.
Turn engine in running direction until an apex seal appears in the trailing
plug hole.
Gently turn the engine backwards until an apex seal appears in the leading
plug hole.
Half way between those two events is TDC. With practice, accurate enough to
do by just feel and rocking back and forth by hand and to find TDC within a
few degrees, or close enough to drop in the distributor and have the engine
fire instantly and run fine.
(4)
If you used grease or Vaseline on the side seals, you can have a plug
prepared with the center knocked out of it and a plug in place with a piece of
brake line soldered through the center. Screw this special plug into the
bottom plug hole. Push a length of plastic tubing over the piece of brake
tubing. Pour auto trans fluid through the top plug hole. Reinstall the top
plug. Hold the hose in the vertical. Turn the engine until the fluid level
nulls.
That's TDC number one with a degree.
(5)
The flywheel end counter weight is centered between the plugs on number two
rotor housing. That's TDC number one within about 10 degrees. But you can get
good at it, and get more accurate.
(6)
If you have the front pulley bolt and washer off, looking from the front
pulley end,
the keyway in the 9:00 O'clock position is TDC number one within a few
degrees.
My TDC rig is for setting up port timings and requires a disassembled
engine, so that won't help you. Good for inside of one degree.
(6)
Quick and dirty.
Take out either plug from number one housing.
Wet a finger. Hold it gently over the empty plug hole. Turn the engine in
the running direction. When the air quits pushing past your finger, that's
TDC
within 10 degrees or less.
Lynn E. Hanover
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