Setting the timing on a chevy small block. PT 3

[sjohnson4756]

Thanks for posting this

[WilliamMiloh]

Ortamenx: Good job man: Ignore the haters. I've built well over 200 SBC's and see nothing wrong with your discription. It would be preferable to have the #1 tower aimed twards the #1 plug but totally not a must. The dist don't give a flying crap where it's located as long as it's wired right. and the wires reach. And there is no need for a timing light until you start it up and adjust your advance or retard. No need for argument from haters I know what I'm talking about.

[7414mickey]

thanks bro

[Avirexwun]

heres a completely random and off timing topic question. but my novas washer fluid hoses arent hooked up and I cant figure out where the hell they go, would you be able to tell me?

[Southerlandjoseph]

What you are talking about is half ass number one should be were it's Sapost to be you are gonna have people all fucked up shit you probely have no1 wire were no5 souls be you suck sell your chevy to some one else loser

[grkstd1967]

instead of putting the wire in the plug hole ,can u just put the motor TDC by the markings on the harmonic balancer,to do the initial timing???????

[MrLost602]

Your video sucks, how about showing the timing marks w the tab and the balancer. Showing the cap all the time and the timing order is no help if you dont show how to get tdc with the timing tab

[subron6er]

thanks, I just pulled out the distributor and forgot to mark it, got a new set of points and they don't match what I had, the new ones have the condensor attached to the points plate, no wire, got to figure this out. But its supposed to be the right part, its a 69 Camaro 350. thanks JEff

[schrankm]

this kid knows jack which is why he's working in a dump

[schrankm]

if your timing chain and gears along with your balancer are in good condition, you would be a moron not to use a timing light. initial timing was suggested by general motors for a reason. if close is good enough, then why is it measured in single degrees? 5-10 degrees can't really be heard by ear and having initial timing off 10 degrees, performance may be greatly reduced also causing severe engine damage over time, detonation and pre-ignition. these are not good for any engine, use a damn light

[seapeddler]

TDC is not important, but setting the timing pointer to the specified timing mark is.

If the basic ignition timing is 15 deg. BTDC, then the timing pointer should point to 15 deg.'before' the distributor is installed.

Setting the timing pointer to 0 deg. or TDC, is not when to install the distributor.

It does matter. If I am interpreting your instructions correctly. Anyway, if not don't scold me.

[69zypher]

Man that was the best,simple.and easy instructions given thank you.

[Newoldskooler]

What a dumbass!

[g18marine]

i have a c20 pick up 350 v8 can anyone tell me what the wire set up for it is is it the same as this car?

[schrankm]

@g18marine 18436572 for all gm small block v8s

[ted850760]

@schrankm wrong...dz 302

[schrankm]

@ted850760 bullshit. all chevy small block V8s used the same firing order. look it up for the 302. it's 18436572

[ted850760]

@schrankm LS 1 18736542

[schrankm]

@ted850760 does his engine look like an ls1?

[ted850760]

@schrankm LS1 18736542

[schrankm]

@ted850760 don't be a smartass trying to correct someone when you're wrong.

[g18marine]

i have a chevy c20 pick up truck v8 350 4 barrel and could someone please tell me the wire set up for this on the spark plugs where 1 through 8 plug into is it the same as the picture he has drawn here?

[biggywow]

Thanks for the information.  You did a good job. Thanks for taking the time to show us how to set timing.

[damnmaggot]

Thank you so much for the videos man, this helped out a bunch.

[bennra26008]

Right on the money thxs

[91firebird91]

this is pry a dumb question but do u take one spark plug out at a time n do it? or take all of em out

[ortamenx]

Well you take out the number one plug to set the TDC. To make it easier to turn over you can loosen them all, that way you don't have to crank the engine by hand under compression.

[silicon212]

@ortamenx Just be careful - just simply having the #1 at TDC does not guarantee that #1 is TDC on the compression stroke. You can have your distributor out 180 degrees. Depending on the cam, both valves may look closed on #1 at TDC on the exhaust stroke. I always take the even valve cover off and try to rotate the pushrods on cyl #6, either intake or exhaust. If one or both do not freely turn, then #1 is on compression stroke.

[8footstepside]

thanks man! i used this 3 video series to help me set the timing on my impala! epecially the screwdriver oil pump rod trick! good on ya man!

[nygiantswinner]

Thanks for the vid. I had forgot to line up the number 1 wire to the #1 cylinder and was 180 degrees off. You know what that means... POOW. Fire out the carb. I set TDC via the timing mark on the damper . I set #1 to the #1 cyl and backfired a little and had to retard it some. Now it runs!!! Thanks Ortamenx!!!

[ortamenx]

No problem. Glad it's running.

[seapeddler]

@nygiantswinner (as an example,depending on underhood sticker specs) If you set your timing pointer to 15 deg. BTDC on compression stroke,(on damper) then install the distributor,you rarely have to jiggle to get the rotor to point to

# 1 cap terminal. This will establish the basic timing, as the engine is set to fire at 6-15 deg. or whatever. Is this what you mean? And no backfiring should happen.

[djparamedik]

thanks yo . very helpful

[memphisfinest4sho]

thanks man very helpful

[donokanagan]

Ortamenx, How about a vid on setting valve lash, these SBC's always have that damb tick, how about showing us how to fix this annoying common problem, would make a great vid too!! keep up the good work.

tnx from Canada....

[ortamenx]

I just might shoot that vid when I re-lash my valves. I just did my headers and front springs and I am kicking myself for not shooting that, even though it is simple. Ultimately I'd ike to break down they whole sbc, transmission, rear end, suspension, carb, exhaust, electrical, ect. . . Time is the biggest issue for me right now. But good idea, I'll look into doing that. Thanks for viewing.

[memphisfinest4sho]

please do that son if at all possible. that would be so helpful you dont even know. im a old noob if you know what i mean.

[camaro4542u]

best way to ajust valves is doing it running pull off cover start it up loosen nut till it taps then run back down till it stops then 1/4 turn more it will be perfect

[ortamenx]

You should make a video of it and post it.

[camaro4542u]

no if ur going to do it u need to do it rite

[ronslistenings]

@camaro4542u that's the way the uneducated do it around here also.

[wertup123]

i usually put paper in it till it blows out then just set the wires from there. does that mean the piston is at the very top?

[ortamenx]

That will tell you when it is on the compression stroke, not when the piston is TDC. To find TDC with out a vac gauge you can do two things. 1. When it starts to push out air, take a rod, wire, ect. . . and slip it in the plug hole, turn it until the wire first starts to drop, then your close to TDC. Or (this isn't accurate) you can keep a finger on the hole and soon as it stops blowing out your close to TDC. I prefer the wire that way I can feel when the piston is TDC.

[ortamenx]

Also, if you have a vac gauge you just watch for the compression to stop, but you dont' need one. I have one and still use the wire technique. If you get it close to TDC your timing will be set enough to run decent, but you then can easily adjust the advance by rotating the dizzy to get peak performance.

[wertup123]

ultra cool. ill try it tommorow. to clearify something, after it blows the paper out, i put the wire in and then i rotate it and the the wire should go up rite? upon it dropping i STOP?

[ortamenx]

Yes when it blows the paper out the piston is on the way up. Then you check it with a wire. As soon as it starts to drop stop, you can crank it backwards to get it to go back up a bit, but if you stop as soon as it starts to drop you'll be close enough to rotate the dizzy to set the advance and compensate for the tiny impediment of the timing. I personally hand crank the engine backwards a bit to ensure true TDC. Then you can rotate the dizzy to advance it, and set the vac advance.

[wertup123]

fact that im not getting the piston to the very top. my question is, is the position of the piston determine how accurate the timing will be?

[wertup123]

hey man i agree they make this stuff too too complicated! i have been trying to time my 302 for a while now. i think my problem is the fact

[ortamenx]

I thought about setting it back and advanced, but I got my 327 running too nice to tweak it for a vid of back fires and stumbling, I should of done that before I set it up. I may fire it up and put the timing light on it though, thats a good idea for a video. Thanks for the ideas and for viewing.

[cam92rss]

i think your doin a great job, prestagedz28 not all timing is the same. mine runs best at 10deg. ortamenx, just maybe you could get into it more hands on, like, fire the engine with the timing light on, to show them how it works, and then maybe turn the distributer to show the tab advancing or retarding, and show what it will do when to far advanced. stuff like that.

[prestagedz28]

LMAO.. I feel sorry for any one that lesions to your poor advice. I bet your car spits back a lot. By the way, the correct timing on a 350 is 4* before top dead center.

[ortamenx]

Obviously you've never set a small block tdc. my 327 runs amazing.

[ortamenx]

Oh wait I forget everybody on you tube is smarter than people who know what they are doing.

[ortamenx]

No problem, glad it was useful.

[sweetchariots2003]

thanks very much for the video i had been messin with my motor for 2 days trying to get it to fire in the correct order because i am a beginner at the motor stuff. but thanks alot the video help me get back up and runnin.