The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Timing Marks

THis thread has been pretty extensive. Still my two cents are this:

Go to a hotrod shop and buy a Small Block Chevy timing cover timing pointer. Sometimes they are serated looking. Cut them with tin snips so they make a point that lines up with your crank pully. This will bolt to your timing cover no problem.

Pull the #1 spark plug, stick a screw driver in there and slowly turn the crank. When the piston touches the screw driver you are at that mythical place called "TOP DEAD CENTER" (TDC).

Draw a line on your crankshaft pulley. Break out a hack saw or file and file a mark onto the pulley.

Stick your distributor into the engine. Turn it till the star wheel lines up with the outer ring. Note which direction the rotor contact points. Put on the cap on. Wherever the rotor contact pointed will be where you connect the #1 spark plug wire. Now going around clock wise hook up the others in the firing order.

Your engine is now 'static timed' and you have a reference on the crank pulley to work with instead of peering through the bellhousing onto the flywheel.

Got some extra time? Take off the pulley and degree it manually, marking 10, 20 30 and 40 degrees. Cut those hash marks in with a hack saw (not too deep, depth of the width of a penny is plenty). Now when you are setting the timing you've got some references to work with.

Hope this helps someone!