engine and drivetrain #1 @TDC which valves are closed/open ? and more questions

[sheggaw]

Trying to do static timing to start the car, we have timing light once the car has started. #1 being on TDC are the 1 & 3 on the intake and 2& 4 on the Exhaust closed? Then when #4 is in TDC it is 2 & 4 intake & the 1 & 3 Exhaust?

We are having a heck of time getting an 02 timed right. It seems like the person who rebuilt the engine might have screwed up somehow.

Tried TDC with the camshaft mark aligned to the flat spot & the crank pully mark is on the 2 notch mark, the opened and closed valves don't make sense at all. Forget about looking for the pressed steel ball, it was nowhere to be found, maybe next time will look for the "Z" and go from there.

Another question is, Which method is more reliable? seems like things are not aligning at all.

Is there something we are missing at all?

[bevans6]

Take out all the spark plugs so that you can turn the engine over easily. Use a probe in #1 cylinder (carefully) to postion #1 piston at the very top of it's stroke. Do not use the starter motor to turn the engine over while there is a probe in the cylinder, use the crank pulley nut or some other method of manually turning the engine. If you are careful you can find TDC actually quite accurately this way. Then look at the valves. Either both valves for #1 cylinder will be open or they will be closed and the valves for #4 will be open just about perfectly equally. If both valves for #1 are closed, then the engine is at TDC on #1 compression stroke, which is what you want - TDC on the firing stroke for #1.

If any of the above is not true, the cam is mis-timed. If it is true, then make sure the distibutor is in so that the rotor is pointing at the distributor cap post for the spark plug lead that is going to #1 spark plug.

Brian

[Paul7002]

(nt)

[winstontj]

Trying to do static timing to start the car, we have timing light once the car has started. #1 being on TDC are the 1 & 3 on the intake and 2& 4 on the Exhaust closed? Then when #4 is in TDC it is 2 & 4 intake & the 1 & 3 Exhaust?

We are having a heck of time getting an 02 timed right. It seems like the person who rebuilt the engine might have screwed up somehow.

Tried TDC with the camshaft mark aligned to the flat spot & the crank pully mark is on the 2 notch mark, the opened and closed valves don't make sense at all. Forget about looking for the pressed steel ball, it was nowhere to be found, maybe next time will look for the "Z" and go from there.

Another question is, Which method is more reliable? seems like things are not aligning at all.

Is there something we are missing at all?

Jack has this really cool optical floroscope for HVAC applications. It's got an LED light and a fiber optic see-thru lens so you can litterally shove a camera down the spark plug hole inside the cylinder. It was really cool - but when I asked how much and where to buy he laughed and said just borrow his, that I don't want to know the price!

It's possible that your camshaft is off a tooth (or more). or it's possible that you are 180 degrees off - but if you are looking at the valves then probably not. Do you have the pointer on your valve cover? If yes than time the valves for TDC #1 - So both are closed and exahust is about to open. Intake on #4 should be closed or closing and intake on #3 should be open. If your valves are alligned properly then look to the crank (flywheel and pulley) and see if they match. The beauty is that the flywheel and crank pulley only go on one way - the only variable is your cam and timing chain. Your cam (and valves) and your crank need to line up for things to run. If they are lined up I'd suggest checking firing order?

[TTyMiller]

I picked this up from BavAuto.com it's listed under tools on their site

Top-Dead-Center (TDC) Whistle Tool

Part # : 9710 $ 14.95

When adjusting valves, replacing timing belts and chains, or performing ignition timing/tune-ups, insert this tool in place of the cylinder #1 spark plug. As you hand-crank the engine, the rising piston will push air out through the tool, creating a whistling sound. When the whistling stops, you'll know the piston has reached TDC. Works best on engines without coil-on plug ignitions