Re: 1985 Chrysler 85 HP - Timing
36 degrees BTDC (before top dead center) is one mark on the tool and the other is TDC (or 0 degrees). First, make sure piston is at top dead center, then adjust tool to align with its 0 mark. Next, rotate flywheel to second mark and that's 36 Degrees. (You have to rotate flywheel until piston goes down and then comes back up to approach 36 BTDC.)<br /><br />I don't know the dimensions for the tool. On my 1967 75 HP, I made sure that TDC (using a dial indicator in the spark plug hole) matched the TDC mark on flywheel and timing tab. No adjustment was necessary for mine. There's only one more mark on my flywheel which is 36 deg. Its a more than a good assumption that the 36 deg mark is in the right place. It would be really strange if it was out. Still, if you want to check it, you can count the teeth on the flywheel and call that "N". Next, divide 360 deg. by N teeth and that gives you the degrees for one tooth. Then take 36 and divide it by the deg./tooth. This gives the nummber of teeth from zero to get to 36 deg. <br /><br />Because 360/36 equals 10, a simplified formula is just N divided by 10 to give you number of teeth from 0 to 36 degrees. I'll bet that's why they mark 36 deg. on the flywheel!<br /><br />Remember, when setting timing<br />1) full advance by having throttle wide open.<br />2) Points just opening triggers spark. Test-light lights when they open. Volt meter goes from zero to 12V when they open.<br />3) many here say use 28 deg instead of the factory spec of 32 due to differences in gasoline back then.<br /><br />4) Double check with timing light by cranking not running the engine. All plugs out with #1 grounded if you have points. ALL Grounded if you have CD to avoid harm to ignition system.<br /><br />5) Always good to keep an eye on spark plugs for indication of timing advanced too much as this can melt a piston.
