Could also be that no one that has read your post yet knows the answer.<br /><br />There is a groove in the vibration dampner that is for 0° and the notch in the timing cover is also the 0° mark.<br />There should also be a decal on the vibration dampner that will show the degrees from 6°ATDC to 16°BTDC.<br />Don't forget, you will have to put your Thunderbolt V system into base timing mode to check/adjust timing and also to adjust the mixture on the carb.
Yea. Should have done that from the start.<br />Pi (aka 3.1416) times Diameter in inches (in thousands and measured accuratly) = Circumference<br />Circumference divided by 360 = distance in inches for 1°. <br />Multiply that times the number of degrees you want and make the mark on the vibration dampner.
. spilled soda all over the old one yesterday, so far I have washed it twice, we will see if it lives.<br /> going back to your balancer.<br />if you figgue the circumference and divide that by 360 it gives the distance around for each degree.<br />dia X 3.14(Pi) will give circumference. lets assume the circumference is 25inches, 25"/360* is roughly .069" per degree.<br /> say ya need 25 degrees. 25x.o69 is 1.75 inches. cut a strip of paper that long. lay one end at the TDC groove on the balancer and make a paint mark at the other. presto. instant timing mark.<br />you can also use a dial indicator if you know the engine stroke.<br /> engine timing is not hoodo nor voodo.<br />all it does is insure the spark occures when the piston is at the optimum point in its compression stroke.light the fuel mix to early and compression pressure spikes,combustion temps become uncontrolable and the fuel goes bang and the resulatant pressure wave(detonation) eats pistons, to late and the mix is still activly burning when the exhaust valve opens and creates burned exhaust valves and exhaust components.<br />if the timing cover tab is missing you will need to find TDC with a dial indicator on the piston and make a reference mark on the timing cover or other convenient location. it can be on your roof rafter as long as it never changes.<br />while timing is rather critical most the time its plus or minus 2 degrees. gives you 4 degrees to miss it by.<br />with todays fuels I try to miss on the retarded side for most applications but its just as easy to hit it.<br /> I have two stevens eluminator 84 lights with advance and tach functions. I just sent one to south america cause I am mathematically challenged.<br />however I showed the tech down south how to use his light even if it was a 30 dollar cheapie.<br /> I still have a 30 dollar penske my late father gave me at age 13 back about 1974.<br />I sometimes even use a cloth measuring tape typically used for sewing to measure circumference.<br />dont get so hung up on references you forget what the goal is.<br />the hard part is remember which side of the TDC mark on the balancer to lay the paper strip. however if ya go both ways its harder to miss.
