The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Finding Top Dead Center

Hello gentleman,

Just put a new Edlebrock (performance series) intake and carb on my 350 engine (1963 1/2 ton 4x4 truck)

Did alot of research into how to find TDC and how to install the distributor as well. Let me tell you what I did and then see what you have to say about it.

I used a 10 guage electrical wire to poke in the # one spark plug hole in order to feel when the piston came up while also looking at the line on the harmonic balancer until it lined up with "0" on the indicator that resides next to the harmonic balancer. I was able to get them both proper placement. ie: piston seemed to be out as far as it would go and line was at 0. So I figured I got top dead center. Next I put in the distributor and after messing/turning the oil pump down inside the distributor hole I was finally able to get the distributor to drop so that it faces the # 1 sparkplug when seated all the way down on the intake. Then I matched up the # 1 sprk plug on the cap w- the rotor as it points to #1 on the engine. Then I put the plug wires (clockwise) starting at # 1,8,4,3,6,5,7,2

I go to fire her up and she won't start. Before I did all this I had it close to TDC and she fired up but was all out of whack so I did all this research and here I am she won't even go. THe carb is like brand new and I have HEI distributor. Any insight would be wonderfully appreciated. THANKYOU you all in advance!

Shane Hamilton
Warrensburg MO

#1 is likely at TDC on the exhaust stroke and it's fireing on #6. Pull the distributor and turn the rotor 1/2 turn so it's pointing a #6 (directly across from #1). It will be easy to find as it's the only other place that the distributor will drop into the oil pump without turning it.

I will give that a go! THANKS!

shane

old skool way-take out #1 plug and stik finger in hole have someone turn moter a click at a time until you can feel the compression on finger.Thats tdc compression.Line up timing marks and drop in distrubitor pointing to #1 on the cap and you should have it! good luck timbuk

I like to watch the valves on #1 piston as i rotate the crank to bring the "0" to the mark on the toming tab. As the intake closes the piston will start to come up and your numbers on the balancer will get closer to zero, when zero is lined up with the tab you're in there! But that's with the valve cover off....You can hold your thumb over the #1 Spark plug hole or use a compression tester to keep your hands free to trun that motor over...You can hear air escaping and being drawn in as well, so watch your balancer and listen and look.