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

1958 F100 292

"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs."

"Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice."

-Henry Ford

C= Top Dead Center. the other marks are degrees from TDC

55Birdman  Hickory NC

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

1958 F100 292

"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs."

"Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice."

-Henry Ford

mine has 7 on each side of TDC

55Birdman  Hickory NC

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?

1958 F100 292

"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs."

"Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice."

-Henry Ford

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.

  

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

1958 F100 292

"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs."

"Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice."

-Henry Ford

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.

  

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.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Can the marks move on the truck damper? Or are the marks on the ridgid portion of it? 

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart)