camaro1122

iTrader: (1)

I have a gm goodwrench replacement engine, i currently dropped in and in the process of timing i cant seem to find the mark on the balancer. Its nowhere near the timing tab. The engine cranks over but just doesnt sound right, not sure if its missing. Checked the firing order and its correct. The ignition is an hei distributor with a msd digital box. Everything was working fine a week ago, i could see the timing mark lining up with 10 btdc and after a backfire from the exhaust it just disappeared. What should i do at this point? The car is carburated as well

vetteoz

iTrader: (13)

Mark on balancer is obviously out of range.
Keep turning the dizzy one way or the other until it comes back into view

OrangeBird

iTrader: (1)

It's funny sometimes , the different things people see in threads that sparks an idea or possible answer , and here's mine ;

You mention loosing the timing mark after a backfire* from the exhaust . Have you closely inspected the harmonic dampener itself to see if the outer heavy weighted ring has slipped through the rubber that holds it to it's inner hub ? The outer ring that carries the timing mark is connected to it's hub only by a thin strip of rubber and they DO slip on occasion , putting the timing mark at the wrong relationship to the pointer . Even worse , is that once slipped , the weight (which IS off "off center" to the axis of rotation) is now not in proper alignment with the rest of the crankshaft and can result in all kinds of "The engine cranks over but just don't sound right" (I presume this means it starts but runs/sounds like crap ?)

* ps , "Backfires" come BACK out of the intake , hence the "back" in backfire . "Afterfires" come out from the exhaust , as this fuel burns AFTER it's supposed to , and burns explosively in the exhaust with a nice loud boom . No one usually uses the correct term in conversation , but it's nice to know that there is a differing , proper terminology , to that which is in current popular use .

jsdrafting

Up until computerized engine controls came along I rarely used a timing light. Really there are so many factors influencing what the timing should be it is usually better to just advance the distributor as much as possible without preignition (spark knock) . As you have just shown who knows if the timing mark is even correct to start with.

ninetyone

iTrader: (2)

Easy fix, take out no.1 spark plug and insert a TDC finder ,if you don't have one try using a thick piece of insulated wire. Turn the engine over until it stops turning because it hits the wire or the stopper. Mark the balancer with a piece of chalk or paint. Now, turn engine the other direction until it stops again. mark again. Split the difference and mark the balancer once more. Now, your line in the center is your timing mark.

vetteoz

iTrader: (13)

camaro1122

iTrader: (1)

I figured out the problem. Good thing to say is nothings messed up. Basically all my passengers side spark plugwires came loose off the spark plug and that was my idle and i guess misfire issue. The timing is fine ans set to 16 btdc. I guess the reason i couldnt read it is because the white paint i had on there faded, but i changed my timing light as well. Before i had a xenon timing light which made the white thats on their stand out and now i use a timing light that doesnt have xenon so it was very difficult to read. I now need to get my msd 6al-2 box programmed if anyone can help with that

OrangeBird

iTrader: (1)

I would like to Thank Vetteoz for posting that photo of the slipped dampener . It's great that the Op's problem ended up being much simpler , and a slipped dampener wasn't found to be the trouble . It IS a good thing to remember , for in the future if any other timing marks go MIA .

ninetyone

iTrader: (2)

If they go MIA, then use the method I posted.