292 timing mark issue
 

The timing mark on my 292 is a painted section approximately the same size as the pointer (see picture).

I got everything reassembled (manifold, new carb & refreshed distributor) and timed it approximately like you see in the picture. Motor runs great but no road test yet - it's still mud season here. I'm thinking the bottom point of the pointer being at the bottom of the paint section may indicate about 10 degrees BTDC but I've never seen anything quite like this. Any ideas?

Re: 292 timing mark issue
 

What kind of vehicle/year is this ? Configuration looks strange to me - not like a sedan or a Tbird. Truck ?

Re: 292 timing mark issue
 

A '54 Merc Monterey with a 292 c.i. transplant. I think the motor is a 1961 vintage, possibly from a truck.

Re: 292 timing mark issue
 

Can't help with how it is marked. What I do is put a line of white paint on the mark I want and a dab of white on the pointer
On my 351C the white line goes on the damper and the dab on the pointer. Makes the matching marks much easier.

Re: 292 timing mark issue
 

I'm thinking of removing the paint (paint stripper) to see if there is a line or notch under it. Seems like there should be some original mark.

Re: 292 timing mark issue
 

Can’t tell you about the Merc, but on my bird, it’s a little notch, one at 0 and one (I think) at 10. Looks more like a nick than a timing mark. The pointer has the degrees, as yours does.

Initial in the book is pretty low for advance. My experience is most y blocks like a little more initial. I’m running 10 or so. So long as it cranks and starts. All in, centrifugal only, about 30-35. With the vacuum advance disconnected and the hose plugged.

That new distributor may have an adjustable vacuum can. Once you get the mechanical set for no ping, then you can play with that until you get a little ping at part throttle. Not terribly important. Mostly a gas mileage deal.

Are you running the advance on ported or manifold vacuum?

Re: 292 timing mark issue
 

Do make sure it has the '61 style distributor (photo 2) and not the old Loadomatic version from '56 and earlier. (photo 3)

Some Y-block crank pulleys have the timing marks on a rubber mounted weight ring that can slip out of position. Others are effectively all metal and the timing marks can't have that problem.

The as-yet unidentified pulley may or may not be a match with the timing pointer. ???
It might be helpful to place cylinder 1 piston at actual TDC, confirmed with that spark plug removed, and re-mark the pulley as needed. With luck you can feel the top of the piston with your finger in the spark plug hole as the crank is turned back & forth very slightly with a wrench on the pulley bolt.

If the pulley has a failing rubber layer that has allowed the outer weight ring to slip it could be time to replace or rebuild it, before it causes serious damage.
.

Re: 292 timing mark issue
 

Timing mark issue resolved. I removed the paint (see above) and found no indication of a timing mark so...I decided to start from scratch. Bought a top dead center tool from Amazon, course, for $20. With it I located top dead center on number 1 in about 10 minutes. I repainted the area white as a target for my timing light, then painted a very thin black line at 0 degrees or top dead center. Finished by timing to 10 degrees BTDC.

Still waiting for the end of mud season for a road test.

Re: 292 timing mark issue
 

As an aside, while I was waiting for my top dead center tool, I used my borescope to finally locate a block casting id. Happy to see 6015 A though that still doesn't tell me 292 or 312.

Now where can I find the head casting id assuming the heads may be original to a 6015 A block?

Re: 292 timing mark issue
 

Link to the head section of Mummert’s site. Shows the location at the top.

http://www.ford-y-block.com/cylinderheadchart.htm

Re: 292 timing mark issue
 

"6015 A" isn't really a helpful number for trying to ID an engine block because All engine block numbers have 6015 in the middle of them. To ID a Y-block it's the first 3 or 4 letters/digits you're looking for.
Click on the *Block Identification* tab at this link...
http://www.ford-y-block.com/technical.htm

But the block ID number will Not tell you if it's a 292 or 312 because they were machined from the same castings with the same external markings.
There are additional tabs at the link above for *How to ID a 312*.
.