I have the edlebrock tes headders, but i cant get to the # 1 spark plug so i can rotate the motor to TDC, is there any other way to do it ? I heard that i could bump the motor over untill the 0 on my damper reached the 0 on the timing tab, is this true, or does the 0 on the have to be pointing at 12:00 ?

 

What are you trying to do?

In many circumstances, you can use #6 firing, since #1 and #6 both come to TDC at the same time. Using the timing marks may or may not be accurate enough for whatever you're doing.

 

Im trying to set the timing for my new engine, i had it running but it died in gear even after setting the min air and messing with the tps, so i bumped it over untill the 0 on the fliuid damper and the 0 on the timing tab lined up, pulled the distributer and ligned it up with the rotor pointing at # 1 cylinder, the car wont start at all, ive tried adjusting the distibuter about 20 times now, but nothing is working right, and since i cant really get the # 1 plug out this is making it a hell of alot harder, any help would be very appreciated

91Z

 

Sounds like when you did that, it was at #1 and #6 TDC, but at #6 firing instead of #1 firing...

Try finding #6 firing by turning the motor over and feeling for compressionat #6 and watching the timing mark to come to 0; at that point you'll be at #6 firing. Re-install your dist and point it at #6 instead of #1, and see if that helps.

 

Why can't you get out the spark plug?

 

pull off the drivers side valve cover and when the #1 cylinders rockers both exhaust and intake are closed at the same time u have TDC and just make sure it son the 0 on the timign tab, then drop to dist, in making sure that the rotor is pointing to were the #1 plug wire goes on the cap and your should be ready to go. good luck

 

This is a GOOD question. It is one thing to get your engine to run, BUT you BETTER figure out how to get at your spark plugs.

What you have probably found is that you can't get a spark plug socket on #1 (or other plugs) with the "straight heads" without hitting the primary tubes. Simple, take your spark plug socket and grind some metal off the bottom and a little off the top, but mostly on the bottom. Also, remove the rubber wadding so and possibly drill the hole large so the tip of the spark plug will poke out the end. Lastly, get a racketing socket wrench that you can put on the "hexagon" side of the shortened spark plug socket. You should find that you can remove almost every spark plug from the top side (faster than ever before in fact), except probably #6 & #8 - which you must do from underneath.

If you make that shortened spark plug socket and get a ratcheting wrench for the hexagon side, you should be able to pull your spark plugs much easier. It was for me.

OBTW, I found Bosche spark plugs a little shorter and help clear the primary tubes easier.

 

I've been using bosch spark plugs for a couple years, they are the shortest ones I could find. I just use an open end wrench to do the plugs I can't get a socket on.

 

I'm running headers, too, and getting the plugs out sucks. I found a 5/8 box wrench that has about a 1 inch offset, and that works really well. For TDC, I'd pull the valve cover and watch the rockers.