Those Freakin Timing Marks

[barbefunkoramaque]

You Know I have had this Ranger since my dad and I got it in 88. 88 2.9 v6 Manual ext cab.

It time for yall to settle this once and for all.

It Sat for 3 years and I decided to get it running again with a new head gasket that actually did leak. I think dad, before he died in 95, did not use new bolts for his new head because the guys at autozone didn't mention it.

Anyway... several times I went over and check the timing after we would tune it up... you know... warm it up, shut off, remove spout, hook up timing light and clean mark those TWO marks so we can see them. Each time we look into the Haynes manual and each time it is vague. They show a painted mark between the two. I always out of frustration just got the lower one on that scope looking thingy that looks like you could hook up something into, and the other right on the thingy up higher that can only be considered a pointer (its sharp!)

I never liked it much and it was way too advance so like I said out of frustration I just retarded it until I got rid of the chatter that pre-ignition causes. Funny... after we did that.. drove a bit dialed it mack, drove some more, dialed it back... drove it more... dialed it forward... we never actually looked at the timing afterward.

So... what the F$&K! All you guys on every darn website never get into which mark is which LOL! The closest I think is some guy on here said if its 10 BTDC mark that on the wheel and shoot for that. So does that mean I divide the wheel into 36 parts and scoot one back and from which mark?

I am sure all you guys are laughing now. Hey... I build BBQ pits and run a catering biz not fix trucks.

Seriously... those two marks (Not the mono ground out on the other side... but the two marks... what do they mean? Are they TDC and 20 degrees. And when I settle on the mark... do I get into the pointer arrow?

Donnie

Popdaddys
Barbefunkoramaque

Where there is room for all God's creatures, right next to the potato salad.

 

[barbefunkoramaque]

i jUST kNOW

bIG jIM WILL ANSWER

 

[Big Jim M]

Ok Barbe

bIG jIM WILL ANSWER

But you might not like my post.. I don't remember EVER seeing a timing mark that was BELOW TDC. So not knowing your balancer I'd ASSUME the first mark in the rotation was TDC. Now we must look at the POINTER to see what is marked on there. MAny of these pointers have multiple marks and even NUMBERS on certain marks. I have never found timing of any engine to be a problem. However you seem to only have ONE pointer and two marks on the balancer.. If that is correct, and I have never put a light on an engine of your type so I cannot conclusevly say it is or it isn't correct.. Then you have a problem with knowing what the timing really is.
If it was mine and it had the two marks I'd be finding just what the second mark is. Knowing that can help give you exact timing.
From your previous post you seem to have read it is a 20* mark.. If so then make a mark zackly in the middle of the two marks ( I always use a paint pen So the mark I make will STAY on there. And time it there..
While you are under there making the marks make two more.. One at 30* and another at 40*.. Now you will be able to make a close guess at what your timing is at all RPM with the light.. You can slowly rev her up and see when the mechanical and all other timing comes in at what rpm..
Big JIm

 

[Jspafford]

I marked my 10 degree mark with a line of white out. It lights up nicely when the timing light hits it.

There is more than one mark on the balancer, but they are labeled. Might want to clean yours if you can't read the markings.

 

[barbefunkoramaque]

Thanks Jim But

Okay... I think your logic based on my interpretation of the two marks may work... heres the stupid question

the pointer... remember there are two thingys that protrude off of the block and are over the pulley... one looks like I could put a bolt through it if it had threads... the other... is pointed and would stab you if you took it off

its interesting to note that when one mark is directly under the pointer the lower one is under the round thing..


anyway... shouldnt we assume that we time that new mark I painted on (Which in Haynes shows a guy painting that mark JUST LIKE U SAID... between the other two) would be timed to hit the pointed indicator and not the round one?

 

[barbefunkoramaque]

I marked my 10 degree mark with a line of white out. It lights up nicely when the timing light hits it.

There is more than one mark on the balancer, but they are labeled. Might want to clean yours if you can't read the markings.

Okay here we go again... LMAO

Yes there are two marks... are they 20 degrees apart? thus you mark in the middle as haynes shows (but does not say)

Now my Pully is not only clean but polished in that area with steel wool... just the two marks no labels I see

Is the top mark (right one if you are looking at the pulley from the front looking back) TDC or the one lower down about an inch or so?

And thus which one lines up to the pointer (on top)

 

[Jspafford]

Okay here we go again... LMAO

Yes there are two marks... are they 20 degrees apart? thus you mark in the middle as haynes shows (but does not say)

Now my Pully is not only clean but polished in that area with steel wool... just the two marks no labels I see

Is the top mark (right one if you are looking at the pulley from the front looking back) TDC or the one lower down about an inch or so?

And thus which one lines up to the pointer (on top)

Should say T|C on the far left mark (from the front) to 3|0

That would make the first mark at 0 and the second mark at 30.

The "|" in between the above sentences indicate the lines on the crank.

 

[barbefunkoramaque]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Brilliant! Okay Cornhusker

Okay lets review

There are two marks... each about and inch apart or so... the lower or left one looking from the front with my necktie hanging threads above the fan shoroud is in fact TDC the one higher up is 30 degrees from that.. so if I marked it in the middle I would be 10 degrees BTDC which would still be wrong... so a mark only one third the way to the top or right mark is actually 10 degrees BTDC. RIGHT?


Now I assume I would want to time this ole 2.9 by getting that NEW mark i painted under the pointed thing and not the round thing right?

 

[Jspafford]

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Brilliant! Okay Cornhusker

Okay lets review

There are two marks... each about and inch apart or so... the lower or left one looking from the front with my necktie hanging threads above the fan shoroud is in fact TDC the one higher up is 30 degrees from that.. so if I marked it in the middle I would be 10 degrees BTDC which would still be wrong... so a mark only one third the way to the top or right mark is actually 10 degrees BTDC. RIGHT?


Now I assume I would want to time this ole 2.9 by getting that NEW mark i painted under the pointed thing and not the round thing right?

By gawd, I think you got it. I always time from standing on the passenger side. I set it so the white mark falls just before the pointer. But you use the point, not the round hole.

 

[barbefunkoramaque]

Thanks

I wish my dad was still alive


So I could rub it in his face how wrong he was... LOL

So I have been setting that timing at 15 Degrees BTDC all those years no wonder why I have to dial it back and it over heats on the first run.

Your mark is one third the way I take it?

 

[barbefunkoramaque]

I miss my corvairs and 8 98 olds

they had one freaking mark and the pointer was gauged with notches 5 10 15

a moron could time it... that why it was so easy for me