Cam/crank timing marks

[Zlinkcobra]

Been digging around on this site and cant seem to find what im looking for. I am working on 1949 218 for a customer. Not a motor I normally work on so I just want to make sure im on the right track. 

 

When installing the cam gear I notice that if the timing marks on the two gears are facing one another (12 & 6) that is TDC on #6. If I set them at 12 and 12 that seems to be TDC on #1. Am I correct in thinking that I can set my marks at 12 and 12 and index my oil pump and install the distributer with it facing #1 or 7 oclock. I have looked at the pulley several times and have found no timing marks for me to verify with. I was going to use my magnetic dial indicator to establish TDC and mark the pulley once I have this thing timed and before I put the head on.  Would also assume I can set them at 12 and 6, index my pump and install my distributer at #6 or 1 oclock? 

 

I realize the cam and crank are directly on top of one another like a v8. I think you get my drift with the references to the clock.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated on this. 

 

Thanks,

Gene 

[MarcDeSoto]

Did you position the dots on the camshaft and crankshaft sprockets so that they are aligned with each other?  The vibration damper should have the timing marks on it, but they can be hard to see.  You might have to make sure its clean and put something like typewriter white fluid on it to see the marks.  

Edited January 25, 2022 by MarcDeSoto

[Merle Coggins]

I believe you are correct. If you align the marks, as shown in Marc's photo, you will have #6 in firing position. Turn it 360 to get #1 in firing position to setup your distributor. There should be marks on the pulley, or damper. Often times you have to do a little polishing with some sand paper, or a Scotch Brite pad to find them.  

[Zlinkcobra]

No dampner, just a hub and pulley. No marks on it to be found. Aligning the marks as it says in the manual leaves the exhaust valve slightly open on #1 cylinder and both valves closed on #6 cylinder. That tells me #6 is TDC on compression and #1 is TDC on exhaust. Rotate it 360 degrees and that puts it TDC compression on #1 and TDC exhaust on #6. Which then puts the marks at 12 and 12 as opposed to 12 and 6.

 

Just wanting to verify.

[Zlinkcobra]

5 minutes ago, Merle Coggins said:

I believe you are correct. If you align the marks, as shown in Marc's photo, you will have #6 in firing position. Turn it 360 to get #1 in firing position to setup your distributor. There should be marks on the pulley, or damper. Often times you have to do a little polishing with some sand paper, or a Scotch Brite pad to find them.  

Makes sense to me....just want to be certain. I cleaned...wire brushed and then bead blasted the pulley. Not a mark, knotch, nothing. 

[MarcDeSoto]

Align rotor at 7 o'clock position with oil pump.  

[keithb7]

Agree with 7 o’clock position for distributor rotor. Align oil pump and lock pump into this position.  Then you are at #1 spark plug firing position. The plug wire to number one goes in the distributor cap at 7:00 as well. Then wires 5,3,6,2,4 clockwise. I  Did this very thing and my new engine rebuild fired up immediately. 

[Zlinkcobra]

Thanks guys. Appreciate it.

[Los_Control]

Been a lot of discussion about this over the years.

You are correct in your concerns. I believe a motors manual shows 7:00 position for a Plymouth 218 & #1 spark plug on dizzy.

 

Main thing is #1 & #6 are both tdc at same time. If #6 is on compression then #1 is on exhaust stroke. Or vice versa.

 

#6 has the pipe plug on the head, remove it and as you rotate the engine and feel compression coming out of the pipe plug hole ... you know 6 is on compression and 1 is on exhaust.

Roll it over again and bring 6 up to tdc, now you know 1 is on tdc compression stroke.

Now you can install your oil pump & distributor rotor should be pointing at 7:00 0'clock position.

 

I just feel the pipe plug should have been on #1 cylinder and not #6 ... but what do I know.

Installing the oil pump is like installing the distributor on more modern cars.

You set the timing, then drop in the pump, the end result is the distributor rotor is pointing 7:00 o'clock with #1 TDC compression stroke.

 

Many people have messed this up over the years. My engine #1 is pointing at 6:00 0'clock instead of 7:00.

These old flatheads really do not care ... just rotate the wires on dizzy and they run fine.

Correct is #1 at 7:00 0'clock position.