P-12 Tommy Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 (edited) :DHey guys, this might sound like a dumb question but do you have to plug off the metal vacuum line on the distributor to time these engines? I want to check my timing. Just curious. Never done the timing on a car this old. Also, is there a line on the crank pulley? I didn't see one. Tom Edited June 1, 2009 by P-12 Tommy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desoto1939 Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 You do not have to plug the Vacuum Advance. On the lowere pully vibration dampener should be a flat with line grooved into the metal. Go to a motors manual to determine the specifi mark that you should use. Also determine which plug you should use for the timing. My 39 Desoto uses 2 degres before TDC Top Dead Center and uses the 6th spark plug to base the timing. You can also use a 12v timing light on a 6v system. MAke sure if the car is positive ground that you have the timing limit hookup the correct way. The light will be a little bit weaker but you can time the engine. Mark the line with chalk and or white paint for a permanent mark. I check the timing at least every few months just to keep on the mark. Send me your specific car and I will look in my motors book to get you the specifc mark and info. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg g Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 pull number one plug and bump the engine over with your thumb over the hole (disconnect the coil) when you fell compressing building against your thumb, rotate the engine over by hand till you reach TDC, rotor should be pointing at 7 oclock. Then take alook at the crank pully you may need to clean it up but there shoulb be a group of lines and marks there. Factory is O degrees at 450 to 500 RPM idle. With todays fuel which burns with a slower flame front, you may want to run 4 to 6 degrees before TDC. Or you can road time it. Do a basic setting, leave the dist a bit loose, then go out on the road. This might be tough in Fla but aroundhere we us hills to load the engine. Other wise accelerate hard in 3rd gear from 25 mph to 60 or so, advance the distributor till the engine starts to ping during aceleration. When the ping happens, back the dist off a couple of degrees and lock it down. If your car runs well but you get a hard hot start, back off a few more degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 My 39 Desoto uses 2 degres before TDC Top Dead Center and uses the 6th spark plug to base the timing. You can use plug wire #6 or #1 as they both will both strobe every second crankshaft revoloution. But if you want to really brighten the timing light connect the probe to the coil wire. This will cause the timimg light to read both #1 and #6 as well as the rest of the plugs. But the strobe will only indicate #1 and #6 but be much brighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-12 Tommy Posted June 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Thanks Rich and Greg for the info. Much appreciated. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-12 Tommy Posted June 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 :DAlso I thank Don for the info. I'll give that a shot. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old woolie Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Set a 12V battery on the floor beside the car and hook timing light leads to it and you will have a bright light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martybose Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 You do not have to plug the Vacuum Advance. This is true as long as you are using the ported vacuum from a carburetor. If the distributor is hooked up to manifold vacuum, you would have to disconnect and plug the vacuum line. Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 if you are hooked to manifold vacuum then you are defeating the purpose and action of the advance...you must use ported vacuum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martybose Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 if you are hooked to manifold vacuum then you are defeating the purpose and action of the advance...you must use ported vacuum If you are talking about a completely stock engine, I agree with you. For a modified motor, not so much. Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-12 Tommy Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Just to let you know the ported vacuum is on the carb. Plus I inspected the whole crankshaft pulley and there is no mark to be found. I do have a pointer on the timing cover. I put No.1 piston on top dead center and the rotor points to No.7. If I had a mark to work with I could probably accomplish this. I'll probably just move the distributor a hair to see if it pings then back off. Thanks for all your help. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 I would look real close to the pulley once again..oft times these marks were ver very lighly impressed into the metal..once can pull the inspection plug at #6 cyclinder and find top dead center and mark accordingly.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Does your engine have a harmonic balancer or just a pulley? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-12 Tommy Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 (edited) Hard to get at........ here's a picture. Looks like a crank pulley with about 3/4 of an inch of thickness on the leading edge. No flat spot. Looks like one piece. Edited June 2, 2009 by P-12 Tommy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 (edited) I found the timing marks on my damper a tad on the light side..I did my best to make the mark a bit deeper and then inlay with silver paint.. Edited May 20, 2017 by Plymouthy Adams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 You do have an harmonic balancer. Use the removable plug above the #6 piston (as pictured) to find TDC. Then clean the area of the harmonic balancer directly below the pointer to look for marks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-12 Tommy Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 :DOk, I'll try that. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-12 Tommy Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 (edited) Here we go! I got the generator belt out of the way to get my hand down there and took some sandpaper and sanded the spot. Low and behold! I found the marks. How the other guy before me timed it, it's a wonder! Here's a drawing of it. Hope you can make it out. Which one do I chalk? Edited June 2, 2009 by P-12 Tommy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Chalk the DC mark. That will be the reference point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-12 Tommy Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Thanks Don! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-12 Tommy Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 :DThanks to all you guys that helped me with this. I put the timing light on it and the mark was right on the money! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 :DThanks to all you guys that helped me with this. I put the timing light on it and the mark was right on the money! Tom Glad to help and glad you got it! Send a forum donation that is right on the money;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-12 Tommy Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Strike one for donation. Thanks again, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey beard Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Every time I have a crank pulley off for any reason, I like to clean it up well with a wire wheel or other media, and then paint a contrasting mark where I want my timing to be set. Especially on our flatties, where visability with a timing light is sorta' scant, this helps to make the job a tad easier. And, as Don pointed out, when you hook your light to the coil wire, things brighten up considerably. Happy Timing:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-12 Tommy Posted June 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Thanks grey beard, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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