Can the TDC pin be off by 90 Degrees?

[George Miller]

I would check for a vacuum leak at the intake.

[Tablemaker]

[IMG][/IMG]Okay - I’m a noob. When I was trying to manually find TDC via visual inspection, i goofed. I placed a 1/2 pipe nipple down through the spark plug hole on top of one of the VALVES. I thought it was resting on top of the piston.

Funny how much “brighter” I became after shining a 720 lumen flash light through the spark plug hole.

Anyhow - I still have something wrong with the setup. I’ll reach out again after I get everything put back together.

Finally - I’ve attached a photo of the timing cover (looks like a model A cover to me) and the timing gear/cam dimples.

[1955cj5]

Don't forget to click the "upload" button after you've found your picture...

[Tablemaker]

[Tablemaker]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/157983...posted-public/

[1955cj5]

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Your timing cover looks right...thanks for the picture...

One other thing that hasn't been mentioned..

I've read that the bakelite/plastic distributor upper body can short internally between the traces to #3 and #4 cylinder's spark plug posts causing a miss-fire.

Here is a thread where it is mentioned..

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...39#post1768839

You might try swapping out the distributor upper body if you have a spare...


.

[Jim Brierley]

Use less blue-goo, it can, and often does, drop pieces off and plug the oil pump or oil lines, not good!

[Y-Blockhead]

I agree. In fact I would not use that "Blue Goo" at all...

[Patrick L.]

Looks like there could be 2 dimples in the picture which shouldn't be. But, it looks OK.

If you are now able to find the dimple with the timing pin you should be OK to be able to time it.

[31Abone]

making something simple into a complete overhaul..just turn the rotor 180 degrees if it won't start and sounds horrible...# piston has two TDC...hold your thumb over the hole and crank engine when you feel compression that the correct TDC..set rotor to # 1 pin..job finished and then fine tune timing..timing pin in front is not ever needed..Take flashlite and look sideways at #1 plug hole ..you can see top of piston then bring it to top..sc

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by 31Abone

making something simple into a complete overhaul..just turn the rotor 180 degrees if it won't start and sounds horrible...# piston has two TDC...hold your thumb over the hole and crank engine when you feel compression that the correct TDC..set rotor to # 1 pin..job finished and then fine tune timing..timing pin in front is not ever needed..Take flashlite and look sideways at #1 plug hole ..you can see top of piston then bring it to top..sc

Why not just time it as intended?

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Why not just time it as intended?

I guess thats where the 'then fine tune the timing' comes in.

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

I guess thats where the 'then fine tune the timing' comes in.

The instruction book walks you all the way through fine tuning. the biggest problem most have is they try to time without making sure all slack, in the gears and tabs, is taken into account.

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

The instruction book walks you all the way through fine tuning. the biggest problem most have is they try to time without making sure all slack, in the gears and tabs, is taken into account.

I know. I know how to set the timing.

[Dave in MN]

Originally Posted by George Miller

I would check for a vacuum leak at the intake.

I agree.

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

I know. I know how to set the timing.

I was just putting out a fact for the OP and anyone that may not know. We who know how to time an A engine never forget and realize how simple it all really is.

[johnbuckley]

I am always wary of going by any timing marks ever since I came across a Vauxhal (GM to you guys) with superfluous timing marks drilled on the flywaheel. All became OK when we ignored these rogue marks and used the thumb over the plug hole technique to find Top Dead Center .

[Purdy Swoft]

Model A's are the easiest car to set the timing on . A child could in many cases set the timing on the model A if given the simple instructions of using the timing pin . Many people simply overthink this very simple procedure and this is the main reason that so many model a's timing is so far off that they have no power and run hot .

[katy]

We who know how to time an A engine never forget and realize how simple it all really is.

Ditto, I was taught how in the '50s and am still on track.

[Purdy Swoft]

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

I know. I know how to set the timing.

No harm meant , my friend . So many people can't grasp this simple procedure is why we continue to try and help explain timing in the most simple way , in hopes that it may be understood .