finding TDC
 

I've been reading the tech writeups on setting timing and whatnot, and I'm starting to think that my distributor is not properly oriented. I know i need to find TDC for #1 to check this, is there any way to find it without removing a valve cover? I just adjusted my valves and put everything back together with no leaks and I really don't feel like pulling it all apart again now... :cool:

You could go under the car and rotate the flywheel till the mark lines up on the case. That is either TDC for 1-3, or 2-4. There is clarification on this site for that point. I should know, I just did it, but I forgot. Or, you could remove the #1 spark plug, insert a chopstick or other non invasive rod shaped thing, and rotate engine by the fan till the length of the stick out of the hole is at its maximum. HTH

yeah, I though of the flywheel thing, but I wasn't sure how to tell which cylinders wer at TDC. But if it's lined up and the #1 piston is right up there, then that should be TDC eh... cool.

I like the chop stick technique but remember that it could also be TDC on the exhaust stroke. You need the piston "up" and the rotor pointed at the mark on the distributor housing.

Note: Rotating the engine by the fan "does not" mean sticking a screw driver in the hole and prying on the fan blades. This can lead to broken fan blades. That is bad. If you want to rotate the crank take out the spark plugs and put a socket on the alternator pulley nut, then crank by this method.

Ask me how I know!

The dist. can go in 4 locations(90 degrees apart) as long as TDC/rotor is at right plug wire at the right time. The orientation depends on the condensor not hitting anything. I think it will in a couple of the orientations. Does this make sense.

I use my hand, and a bit o retard strength to turn the fan.
If it is on the exhaust stroke then there will be less air displaced out of the sparkplug hole. If you get a good displacement of air out of it while the piston is coming up then you have the right stroke (sorry forgot to mention that before).

I found it easiest to jack up the drivers side rear tire. Put the car in 5th and rotate the tire. You can see the fan move. You can see the rotor move and you can feel pressure forming against the valves. I put a pencil eraser side down, into the #1 sparkplug hole and turned the tire. Once at it's highest point and the rotor pointing at #1 on the dizzy with the slot of the fly wheel being felt at the top of the tranny... you got multiples of TDC :D
bruce

For one more "degree of TDC" there is a slot at the top of the tranny bell housing. By crawling under the car you can feel it up at the motor case/tranny junction (by the firewall.) Using a mirror and flashlight, line up the notch in the flywheel with the crack in the case halves (ramp under the passenger rear tire, jackstand holding the driver's side up, front wheels chocked, car in 5th gear, e-brake off.) At this point, take a dremel and make a corresponding mark on the bottom of the flywheel in line wit the case split line. This is the ideal way to alway know when the car is at the top of either 1st or 3rd. Do this once and you'll never have to crawl out from under the car to do your valve adjustments (you do adjust your own, right?) The valve adjustment article here on the PP website, does a pretty good job of explaining these procedures.

I finally understand the "feel the notch" procedure. I have an engine/tranny in the garage on the floor. It is at TDC since I just installed the distributor. I went out and looked for the notch in the flywheel. It is wide and deep! Now I understand how you can reach up from below and feel it.

thanks for all the help guys. I had the notch-in-the-flywheel thing down, it was just a matter of figuring out which cylinder was at TDC. Now I know how to tell and I can get my distributor straightened out... :-D

Hey Jim, ain't it great when you have a revelation??:D Always kinda made my head swim;) then you say "Oh, Ya......... I get it"
bruce

Frankly, I think the best way to tell if #1 is at TDC on the compression stroke is to pop the valve cover and look at the valves. "Feeling less air coming out the spark plug hole" seems less than entirely reliable, to me. I'd just pop the valve cover.

--DD