I know I've read some tricks here to set inital on a fresh fire up, but I cant seem to search them down.

Someone told me I could leave the plugs out and sprin the motor over via starter and check timing this way. I dont want to whack my MSD in the process though.

How do you pros do it?
P.S. Its going to be a one man show, so I'd like to get timing really close to correct.

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Gene
ACES / CanAm Chevelles
67 SS 427 (http://www.chevelles.com/feature/october2000.html)

[This message has been edited by 427L88 (edited 11-08-2002).]

If you give the coil h.t. lead a ground path I don't think you will wack the MSD.

All my Chevy experience has been with points. I get the rotor close to cylinder #1 terminal at TDC #1. Then I hook an ohm meter up to the points. I turn the distributor so that loss of continuity (points just open) happens @ 10 deg btdc.

This should work for you: Set engine on TDC #1 ignition stroke. Rotate crank so that the timing marks are aligned to your specification for base timing. Install the dist in the engine with the rotor pointing to the #1 terminal. Turn the dist so that the rotor is halway to the LAST terminal that has fired. (To do this you will be turning the distributor in the direction that the rotor rotates.) Remove #1 plug wire and hold close to a good ground. Turn the ignition on. Turn the distributor opposite normal direction of rotor rotation until a spark is heard. Tighten down the dist.

Don't forget to turn off the ign & put the plug wire back on! Have fun!

[This message has been edited by Unclepennybags (edited 11-08-2002).]

Yeah I wish I could pull that off with the Pertronix. Maybe I can???

Balancer is at 10 BTDC, where I want inital for now( -5 off normal 15 ini 34 tot) . Heck, I was just going to hook up the ignition and turn the distrib until I caught a spark on #1 plug grounding against metal.

Gene,
I use about the same procedure as Uncle described except I hook up my timing light. When you rotate the distributor, the light will flash. Ignition has to be "ON", of course.

And #1 wire grounded. OK, No prob, thats what I thought. With two men, we've always "eyeballed it" and had one man on the engine and the other inside. ThNX guys, its what I figured.

Gene, I'd do it with a plug on the wire just to be safe. Just grounding the plug wire might not give your ignition the resistance it might need to see through the plug. The timing light seems to be the most elegant solution.

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My Web Page (http://www.landry-family.com) (updated 11-02-02)

"Long Live Freedom!"

Chad Landry
TC Member #643
ACES Member #4556
'68 El Camino

Ok here is a real good one man method for getting the timing in the ballpark for the first start up.

Take your distributer and put the cap on it. With a pencil, put a mark on the housing where the #1 cyl. post is. Set the engine at 12-18 deg BTDC. Put the distributer in and line the rotor up with the mark on the case. It will fire up. Have your timing light ready to go.

It is a real pain in the a** to have to do things by your self but sometimes you will be the only good help you can get.

Will

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by thr062:
Ok here is a real good one man method for getting the timing in the ballpark for the first start up.

Take your distributer and put the cap on it. With a pencil, put a mark on the housing where the #1 cyl. post is. Set the engine at 12-18 deg BTDC. Put the distributer in and line the rotor up with the mark on the case. It will fire up. Have your timing light ready to go.

It is a real pain in the a** to have to do things by your self but sometimes you will be the only good help you can get.

Will <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thats how I do it too. Also once you have the distributor in the correct position on the cam but the oil pump rod is not located correctly just "barely bump the starter and the distributor will fall right in when it comes round to the right postion.

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best regards
Importtech

68 chevelle

my webpage (http://home.hot.rr.com/importtech/public_html/project.htm)
Dad's Place (http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=6&uid=525201&)

turn the motor over until #1 intake valve opens and closes,this is the compression stroke,line up your tdc mark with 10 degrees btdc on your tab.the motor will fire.i'm a 1 man operation this works everytime good luck.

I eyeballed it. So then, master of reality that I am, I hook up #1 plug, wire, timing light on , energize the ignition, and turn the dizzy some... BZZZT FLASH. Uh huh, it was right on 12 BTDC. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif.

Had an errant valve adjustment, but she fired up just fine. I have an ignition wiring issue I have to square away. Ran at 2000 rpms for about 5 minutes but shut it down do to the loose valve. Found it just fine. hope the cam is fine ( lets see how UDHarolds cams hold up in initial durability, i#1 EX and INT were loose!).

IT'S ALIVE !!! IT'S ALIVE !!!
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/cool.gif

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BillsCamino:
IT'S ALIVE !!! IT'S ALIVE !!!
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/cool.gif<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

WooHoo!! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif Almost there Gene!

Way to go Gene. Glad to hear it fired!

Mike

It s starts and runs great. It's cooling off right now in the garage, needing an oil change and one more going over the valves, maybe. I sprung a decent oil leak from the pass side of the oil pan that needs investigation. I cant wait to drive it!