Finding Top Dead Center - TDC

[xxLiquidX]

As creative as this is, you could have gotten a dial indicator. Interesting none-the-less.

[wyosyclone]

@xxLiquidX

Yup, dial indicators work great for certain motors.. not for the 4.3 though, unless you've got the heads off :)

[Abbi325]

or not spend any money and use your oil dip stick, find cyl number 1- remove spark plug - use your oil dip stick, and stick it down the cyl whole- have a buddy turn the crank - there dtc and bdc. bdc will push the oil stick up and almost all the way. but if you keep turning the crank will see the tdc will push the oil stick a lil more and bam.... free...

[wyosyclone]

@Abbi325

stick anything into the sparkplug hole of a 4.3 and about the only thing you hit is the opposite cylinder wall. Believe me, I tried all the obvious methods that have been used for decades. I needed something very accurate and something that I could do on my own.

[lb90802]

i sed this during my 96 civic head swap. i needed to find top dead center before removing the heads. thanks 1,000,000!!!!!!!!!!

[axenz1]

The easy way is by putting long screw driver on no 1 plug hole and turn the crankshaft. The piston will push the screw driver up to show TDC.

[chrisbuffoni]

This is genius, very creative! I'm also curious though, why did you wire the throttle open?

[wyosyclone]

@chrisbuffoni Thanks for the comment. Actually, I had the throttle wired open do to a subsequent test - I made a simple adaptor to connect my air compressor to the intake of the motor. I pressurized the intake to 20lbs (my boost level) in order to check for leaks in all vac lines and intake gaskets. It's simple but effective.

[bitetyson]

That is really cool man. Doesn't help me any because i have a Civic but that is still awesome! lol

[watchforfinger]

why did you wire open the throttle ? just curious

[ort4815]

Very nice. Now...all I need is a f-n MANOMETER!!!!!!!!

[wyosyclone]

@PITBULL35383

Yup, that's easy if the engine is on a stand where you can turn it over slowly and easily. The only thing you can get on to turn the engine over on these is the alternator nut and then it doesn't turn over easily - even with all the plugs out. The plug angle on these motors makes it difficult to use a piston stop or standard tdc indicator.

[wyosyclone]

Sorry for not answering that sooner.... it's a Dwyer 20-D.

[gvjohn1]

@wyosyclone

Okay, thanks.

[gvjohn1]

Thanks for this great idea. I was just checking the Dwyer website and wondered which specific model manometer you are using? Looks like this question was asked but no answer appears. Thanks again!

[Jimi670]

You could also remove rocker cover and rotate crankshaft until the cylinders opposite valves are rocking, just a thought no need for fancy equipment

[wyosyclone]

illkron.... the TDC tools don't work worth a darn on the 4.3 GM V6 due to sparkplug angle.

fiddlerpin and yz250... using the guess method of setting timing doesn't work on a turbo motor where you're running 20psi of boost, and where the ECM controls timing. Base timing has to be set correctly.

408champ... I have no idea how your method could work... total BS based on CR, etc.

[illkron]

why not just use a top dead center tool? they are about $9 and the size of a spark plug.

[beercoolie]

I like it. very clever. 

[mbdalyricalmc]

stick a screwdriver into the number 1 spark plug hole and turn the motor until the piston doesnt move at top

[peugeot086]

@mbdalyricalmc redneck

[mrShikadanse]

thanks. im trying to find tdc on a vw tdi. cant put a screwdriver in a sparkplug hole so this really helps.

[maxestuardo]

I use a long chop stick in the spark plughole and rotate the cranck. thats all I have to sasy(forest gump)

[fiddlerpin]

I have a Dwyer Manometer for gas pressure reading. I use a screwdriver to find TDC Don't need to find TDC just adjust the distributer for the best engine operation. If you knock then move it a little at a time till its right.

[yz250frider1]

u coulda just had somebody turn the motor over with a special tool (i forget what its called) then put ur finger over the whole for the #1 piston then when u feel a decient amount of air come through thats tdc

[Mrhellsy]

put a thin bar in the plug hole. esy

[JakeyDPhotography]

very cool idea

[camaro4542u]

well if u buy a timing tab it only bolts up in one spot i dont think u need all this to find tdc and all balancer have a timing slot

[Missshylow22]

a screw driver works great to. just trying to save u all the bull

[ajpunisher666]

is this guy a scientist what the hell is that just turn the belt use a piston stop adjust start it and done dork way to cut up the gauge

[BobW57]

What ever happened to an old fashion piston stop ?

[JonBanquer]

What model Dwyer manometer is this?

What do you have it mounted to... it looks like a floor lamp?

[wyosyclone]

Yup, my wife's floor lamp... it was handy! :)

[408champ]

u did all that when u could of just done a pressure gauge test... i think 15psi is tdc