89 ram 360, full msd set up (box, coil, distributor, wires), carborated.

Truck runs fair and is drivable but timing is definitely off. Got a brand new basic timing light, hooked it up and there isn't a timing line in sight! Anyone else have this happen or know what's going on? Would really like to get this thing dialed in.

 

Closely inspect the balancer, and make sure the outer ring hasn't slipped.... (if there are any marks on it at all......) Might have to get one that actually has timing marks, if yours doesn't..... or, turn the engine to number 1 cylinder at TDC, and make your own mark.

 

Im not sure it has an outer ring. I can see holes that were drilled out of it to balance. It has a line cut in it in several places around it. 2 are partial and 1 is all the way across. The actual timing/degree marks are in a tab that sits above the balancer.

 

It's probably the 1 that goes all the way across. Pull the spark plug on number 1, turn the engine to TDC, and see what lines up.

 

That's the plan I guess when I get home today. I marked that line with chalk and it doesn't even show up when running the light. Any recommendations on how to turn the engine to get cylinder 1 to TDC when you don't have a socket big enough? haha

 

If the belts are good'ntite, grab ahold of something else to turn the motor. Either that, or get access to the ring gear for the starter, and a big screwdriver can turn the motor. If you pull all the sparkplugs, you might even be able to turn it by hand.

 

Good call. 8 or so years ago I was constantly under the hood of this thing doing something and could have came up with that. I'm out of practice and work in health care now so I've lost what little touch I had! Haha. Thanks for the advice. Will update later.

 

This is what I'm looking at.. still working on getting it turned over to TDC. No luck turning it yet. May have to buy a socket that fits. Couldn't hurt to have one. I've been reading some on finding TDC and I'm confused.. I figured top dead center is when the Piston is at its highest point, which should happen X2 per full 4 stroke cycle (compression and exhaust stroke). What am I reading about finding the 2 points and measuring halfway between them?

Edit: the line in the picture may be what I'm looking for. I guess there are 2 that go along the way across. I know the piston is near TDC right now just by the gentle feel of screw driver.

 

Found an old impact socket set and it has a metric socket that fits well enough to turn it. It's dark out will hit it first thing in the morning

 

No luck. Ended up just going by ear... Had a line at TDC but it didn't show it's face with the light. May have been TDC exhaust stroke I guess. It runs I done what I could by ear... I'll drive it and see how it goes. Thanks again for the advice.