Locating dimple on timing gear

[30 Closed Cab PU]

Originally Posted by Railcarmover

It should be close..but why take a chance? if you drop in the back up distributor,pin it up and check.Its important to master timing your car,detonation (spark knock) is a major contributor to main bearing failure,every time it knocks its akin to taking a sledgehammer to the top of the piston.

If on the road, my thoughts are - but open to discussion, the spark lever should be able to be used to adjust for any small error in timing.


Yes/no?

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by 30 Closed Cab PU

If on the road, my thoughts are - but open to discussion, the spark lever should be able to be used to adjust for any small error in timing.

I think for the original question, the idea was to keep the distributor as a backup for roadside repairs, where it could be swapped in as a single unit to save time. In that case, you're correct that the spark control rod could be used to correct for a minor timing offset.

However, I think Railcarmover's comment was meant to suggest that it would still be worthwhile to unscrew the timing pin, get out the crank, and crank it around just to make sure that the rotor is roughly in the right spot, because trying to start it with the rotor significantly misaligned could not only prolong your troubleshooting process, but also damage the engine.

[Railcarmover]

Originally Posted by 30 Closed Cab PU

If on the road, my thoughts are - but open to discussion, the spark lever should be able to be used to adjust for any small error in timing.


Yes/no?

Correct...its why the spark is adjustable,to allow you to set for condition.If the base timing is set too far advanced you potentially lose the ability to correct.My point is to always pin up when installing a distributor.

[erdaviesjr]

Hey, I found the great, simple solution for me was to purchase the sping-loaded tool from Snyder's for about $25 to replace the timing probe on the Model A. When the spring loaded device hits the dimple, there is a noticeable movement on the device. I confirmed this when I removed the radiator to replace the head with a higher compression head. it found the dimple dead on. Problem solved for me with timing. Thanks for all the conributions! RD