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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 69
S
'Bolter
'Bolter
S Offline
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 69
I have a 1941 216 engine. I just want to make sure I am going to do this the right way. Could someone please take a picture of what the steel ball looks like on the flywheel. I have a triangle followed by what I think is the steel ball that is just beyond the triangle. I want to make sure I have TDC so I can put the plug wires on the right way.


1942 Chevy 1/2-Ton Pickup
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J
'Bolter
'Bolter
J Offline
Joined: Jan 2000
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Yeah, you found it just past the triangle. Best way to find TDC is bring #1 up on compression stroke (all plugs out, thumb in the spark plug hole) then I like to fine tune TDC by pulling the fan blade up watching the piston. I have seen flywheels put on wrong so the ball may not be in the correct position.


It's easier to get forgiveness than permission!
1946 1/2-Ton Chevy
1953 Chevy 3/4-ton Factory Stakebed
Joined: Mar 2002
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'Bolter
'Bolter
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The triangle should have some letters saying something like "UDC" which is upper dead center. The steel ball is really small and is just past the triangle.


1951 GMC 1 Ton Flatbed -- It is finally on the road and what a great time I have driving it!
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Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Joined: Sep 2001
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As truckernix describes, the steel ball is the timing mark and the triangle is the TDC mark.

It has been a while since I've taken a 216 apart, can the flywheel be installed in an incorrect orientation? I recall that there are three dowel pins on the crankshaft flange - are this symmetrically located or do they prevent an incorrect orientation?


Joined: Mar 2002
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'Bolter
'Bolter
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I believe that the flywheel only fits in one orientation.


1951 GMC 1 Ton Flatbed -- It is finally on the road and what a great time I have driving it!
1951 1 Ton Completed


My Chevy Master 4 Door is on the Road!
Joined: Nov 2005
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K
'Bolter
'Bolter
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It only fit in one position on my '41 the 3 pins are not spaced the same. The ball is about 3/16" in diameter and mostly sunk into the flywheel. If you clean it well you will find it is shinny like chrome or stainless


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J
'Bolter
'Bolter
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I'm telling you guys, I helped a buddy one time with his Chevy, and some previous owner must have put that flywheel on with an impact wrench. It had pushed the alignment pins through the flange of the crank, but we fixed it. Needless to say, the timing marks were WAY OFF!


It's easier to get forgiveness than permission!
1946 1/2-Ton Chevy
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H
Shop Shark
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Photo of the timing ball on a 261. The 216s that I've worked with look about the same.

Hoyt

Joined: Oct 2006
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D
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Photos of the timing ball on a 1950, 216.
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/truck
DG


Denny G
Sandwich, IL
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S
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Thanks for all the pics.

I cleaned my flywheel and found the ball.


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