Who can help me with timing?

[red9535]

Okay, i'm trying to get my timing right, and I have a question.

If I crank it and I get a backfire.. whether it's an intake or an exhaust backfire.. that means the distributor rotor is set on the right spot, and it's just a matter of turning the distributor?

Here's what I did:

Put a rag in the piston 1 spark plug hole
Cranked the engine until the rag came out
Felt through the hole for the top of the piston.. piston 1 was at the top of its compression stroke
Lined the rotor up with the #1 wire spot on the cap
Cranked

Nothing

I've gotten a couple backfires through trying.. then, taking out the distributor, moving it 1 position over, and putting it back down. There should be 8 spots I can put it in, right? Then once I find the right cylinder, its a matter of turning the distributor with a timing light for the fine tuning?

There's only 1 big mark on my harmonic balancer - and i'm not sure if that's right or not.

Any help?

Haven't gotten it to start yet. It cranks consistently, and i've gotten a couple backfires through both intake and exhaust.. trying to fine tune it.

I'm also going to assume it's a problem with the timing.. since i've gotten backfires.. that means there's air, fuel, and spark.. just at the wrong time, and the intake or exhaust valves are still open.

 

[quickstang_1994]

sound like your 180 off.

 

[ryclef331]

First off...if your balancer has NO timing marks....how are you going to accurrately set timing?

Anyways, to get it to crank, put your finger over the number one cylinder until it blows it off. Drop the distribuotr in point at the number one cylinder. While trying to crank it, move the distributor advanced or retarded until it cranks. IF it backfires, Pick the distibutor up and spin JUST THE ROTOR, a 180 degrees...reinstall, try again.

You REALLY need to have a balancer with timing marks though....seriously.