pulled the distributer and stupidly forgot to mark it. what is the basic, accurate way of setting up timing? i know to get the no1 pistion up by checking with the plug out and a wire... but how do you know if the valve is letting in air or exiting exhaust? i'd hate to be 180o off when i start the motor...

hopefully somebody knows of a simple step-by-step method... its a 350 vortec w/ TBI. thanks!

 

get it to TDC, back the engine up a bit, then turn it forward, have a buddy put his finger over the #1 plug hole, you should be able to tell if it the compresion stroke or not that way. also if you pull the valve cover, it is really easy to tell which stroke it is on, but watching the rocker arms.

 

that clears things up a bit. but i'm still confused on how to setup timing the rest of the way... if i didn't mess with my harmonic balencer would turning the notch back to the degree marks reset back to TDC when it was assembled?

then how do i troubleshoot the off-set distributer? i've never timed a motor before.. i'd like to get it as accurate as it should be.

 

find TDC off the compresion stroke, then put the dizzy in with the rotor pointed at the #1 plug wire, the timing mark on the harmonic balancer should read 0* with it at TDC (that is if it is correct) from there you crank the engine over, and hook your timing light up, you the 'spin' the dizzy cap until your timing is where you want it.