where is the timing mark
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Wayne, Nj
Car: 83 Black T- top Firebird
Engine: Carbed 350
Transmission: 5 speed
where is the timing mark
i have a 2.8 and can't find the timing mark on the balancer. there are 3 grooves in the outer ring but i don't think they are it. if they are which one do i use. thanks
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 6
From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
You're in the right spot, unfortunately you have an 82-84, so all the marks are the same width. (85-89 just looks for the widest one.) There's three marks for use with a magnetic timing probe... but the only way I know for sure to find that #1 TDC mark is to get a little dirty.
1. Pull the coil wire off of the center of the dist cap and lay it aside out of the way.
2. Remove the #1 spark plug (front, PASSENGER side- not the front driver's side)
3. Put a socket and breaker bar on the big center bolt of the engine's crankshaft pulley
4. Put your finger over the #1 plug hole; try to create a "seal". If you can't work your finger in there, stuff a cotton rag (not paper towel) into the hole.
5. SLOWLY, turn the crankshaft pulley CLOCKWISE with the breaker bar until either (A) you feel pressure on your finger or (B) the rag blows out of the plug hole. (This step makes sure we get the compression stroke of the #1 cylinder.
6. Stick a phillips head screwdriver STRAIGHT into the #1 plug hole until you touch the top of the piston.
7. Start to slowly turn the crankshaft pulley clockwise again, as you watch the screwdriver. At some point, the screwdriver will stop rising. (This step finds top dead center of the compression stroke.)
8. When the screwdriver stops rising, remove the breaker bar/socket from the crank pulley bolt. Now look at the balancer. One of the marks should be lined up with the "zero" degree mark of the timing scale. This is your timing mark, paint it up with white-out (lasts longer) or chalk.
NOTE: If the screwdriver stops rising, and there's a timing mark "near" the 0 degree mark, but it's not exactly at the zero degree mark, well, guess what- the balancer's outer ring has slipped. A new balancer from GM is $50. All 81-93 rear wheel drive 60 degree v6's had neutral-balanced balancers, so you don't have to worry about getting your motor balanced. But for now, just to set timing, make a new mark on the balancer that lines up with the zero degree mark.
(The outer ring can slip because the balancer has a rubber isolation ring between the outer metal ring and inner metal hub. If the rubber deteriorates, the outer ring can slip.)
Hope that helped... if anyone knows an easier way for the 82-84 2.8's, feel free to post it!!
1. Pull the coil wire off of the center of the dist cap and lay it aside out of the way.
2. Remove the #1 spark plug (front, PASSENGER side- not the front driver's side)
3. Put a socket and breaker bar on the big center bolt of the engine's crankshaft pulley
4. Put your finger over the #1 plug hole; try to create a "seal". If you can't work your finger in there, stuff a cotton rag (not paper towel) into the hole.
5. SLOWLY, turn the crankshaft pulley CLOCKWISE with the breaker bar until either (A) you feel pressure on your finger or (B) the rag blows out of the plug hole. (This step makes sure we get the compression stroke of the #1 cylinder.
6. Stick a phillips head screwdriver STRAIGHT into the #1 plug hole until you touch the top of the piston.
7. Start to slowly turn the crankshaft pulley clockwise again, as you watch the screwdriver. At some point, the screwdriver will stop rising. (This step finds top dead center of the compression stroke.)
8. When the screwdriver stops rising, remove the breaker bar/socket from the crank pulley bolt. Now look at the balancer. One of the marks should be lined up with the "zero" degree mark of the timing scale. This is your timing mark, paint it up with white-out (lasts longer) or chalk.
NOTE: If the screwdriver stops rising, and there's a timing mark "near" the 0 degree mark, but it's not exactly at the zero degree mark, well, guess what- the balancer's outer ring has slipped. A new balancer from GM is $50. All 81-93 rear wheel drive 60 degree v6's had neutral-balanced balancers, so you don't have to worry about getting your motor balanced. But for now, just to set timing, make a new mark on the balancer that lines up with the zero degree mark.
(The outer ring can slip because the balancer has a rubber isolation ring between the outer metal ring and inner metal hub. If the rubber deteriorates, the outer ring can slip.)
Hope that helped... if anyone knows an easier way for the 82-84 2.8's, feel free to post it!!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
