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By cbass139 - 16 Years Ago
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Ok, I borrowed a tack/dwell and a timing light and was going to dial this old girl in but when I went to do so I had a hard time with the timing marks. At first I thought there were none but then I notices very faint markings. The markings start with what appears to be a C on the left followed by 16 small marks to the left. This is on a '58 f100 292 and the pointer is there and in the proper location. Has anybody seen this before and if so can you help me figure it out. Thanks Cbass
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By 55Birdman - 16 Years Ago
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C= Top Dead Center. the other marks are degrees from TDC
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By cbass139 - 16 Years Ago
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Ok, that is what I thought but in the manual they are a lot more obvious and they state that there is only 6 to 8 markings. I didnt want to mess this up. Thanks again cbass
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By 55Birdman - 16 Years Ago
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mine has 7 on each side of TDC
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By cbass139 - 16 Years Ago
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I could also understand having what you have because that would mean btdc and atdc but all 16 on one side seemed like a lot. Would you ever want to set your timing that many degrees off tdc?
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By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
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You might try using a vacuum gauge to set the timing.Hookup the gauge with motor warmed up.Slowly advance the distributor watching the vacuum gauge.When the gauge stops rising back off the advance till the vaccum drops 1 inch of vacuum.Lock down the distributor and take it for a drive. As long as it does not knock under load and starts hot OK leave it and check the plugs after a couple of hundred miles for overheating.Y-blocks like lots of advance.I think you will be surprised at the wqy it runs with advance.If it knocks or overheats plugs back it off untill the knock stops.I did mine this way and ignored the timing marks.Much improved power wise and driveability.
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By cbass139 - 16 Years Ago
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Thanks Mark, I think that is my only option because I looked at it some more and can not tell where the C really is so I dont know how far it is advanced using the marks. I will try the vacuum method tomorrow night at work. Cbass
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By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
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Another item I meant to point out-the timing marks in the damper can change position over the years due to slippage on the damper.Just because the timing marks match up when you set the timing with a light doesn't mean it is accurate.Thats what I think happened on mine.Using an alternative like the vacuum gauge can give better results with old motors like ours.Use your light to check that the timing is advancing as the engine rpms go higher.Also disconnect the vacuum line and plug it going to the dist.advance unit while setting the timing.
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By Ted - 16 Years Ago
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The timing marks on the damper should be in two degree increments. You might be able to see a “10” at the fifth mark. And as Mark has brought up, a slipped damper ring is definitely something to watch out for.
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By pegleg - 16 Years Ago
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Can the marks move on the truck damper? Or are the marks on the ridgid portion of it?
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By cbass139 - 16 Years Ago
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Ok guys, at risk of sounding dumb do I have to do anything to the distributer to get it to turn because mine doesnt seem to want to turn and I have to lean over the hot engine to do this and I dont really want to burn myself?
Thanks
Cbass
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By charliemccraney - 16 Years Ago
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Did you loosen the clamping bolt?
It is entirely possible that the distributor is stuck in the block and will not move without some coercion.
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By cbass139 - 16 Years Ago
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So I went to do as Mark suggested and my new problem is that when I tried to do what Mark said I could not advance the distributor because the vacuum canister was hitting the block. The second I turn it in the other direction it loses vacuum and starts to die. How do I continue to advance the distributor past this point?
Thanks
Cbass
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By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
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If that distributor has not been touched in a long time it may well be stuck in the block.Try soaking around the base with penetrating oil(reapply) for a few days and then carefully tap on the advance and see if the distributor will break loose.I had to do the same with mine.
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By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
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What you need to do now is pull it out of the block and turn the shaft one tooth in the direction of rotation.Put it back in and reset your timing.That will allow you to advance the timing without hitting the block.If you want to "cheat" you can move the ignition wires one place over in the cap.just remember #1 on the cap is not #1 anymore.
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By John Mummert - 16 Years Ago
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Frank, Light trucks used the same dampers as cars from '56 on so they can move around. BTW I finally got an internet connection fast enough to use the web. Now I can annoy you on your computer. No time to work on my own stuff!
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By cbass139 - 16 Years Ago
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Kind of funny to me that John mummert of y-block fame has less posts then me. I cant believe that I am able to say, welcome to the site and cant wait to hear what info you can contribute. I will say I love your website and have a list of things I want from it.
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