how to read top dead center?

Topic: how to read top dead center? (Read 862 times) previous topic - next topic

how to read top dead center?

August 24, 2012, 03:39:24 PM

So after installing my head i can feel the vavle train timing isnt right. When i put the crankshaft to TDC, im curious what angle i should be standing from to see the right reading. Should i put my chin against the fender pretty much or read it by just standing regularly. I can get a TDC to 10 degrees by just moving my head up abit.

how to read top dead center?

Reply #1 – August 29, 2012, 01:29:00 AM

directly in line with the pointer to harminic balancer coming in from sort of the passanger side.

to avoid mis reading it and to eliminate the slack in your timing chain, rotate the motor the opposite way it would naturally spin and dial in TDC.

-remove plug number 1
-stick small screw driver in the hole and you should feel the top of the piston
-stuff a short section of garden hose in the spark plug hole and blow,, if you cant then both valves are closed and your at TDC

-now you can ***just slightly*** rotate the crank its normal rotation and "feel when the timing chain grabs the cam gear. when you fell this happen, look at your pointer and it will give you a good estimation of how much slack you have in your timing chain in degrees.

how to read top dead center?

Reply #2 – August 29, 2012, 05:13:37 AM

Jay he has a 2.3 and TDC is plainly marked on the COG and cover. One of the things i do when building an engine is establish TTDC. This is mandatory in every engine build as part of blueprinting. Also on the 2.3 the string method is the best way to set cam timing. Any highly modified 2.3 will need an adjustable cam gear to set timing up properly. Head milling and block milling throws off the timing (it retards it) as it is a belt driven engine. Also to get TTDC. A positive stop method should be used and a degree wheel. Hope this helps Thanks

J no timing belt slack on the 2.3 ford??? BELT DRIVEN!!!

Note the 2.3 has the cover timing mark on the drivers side!!!

And he will need an adjustable timing gear to set his cam up properly.

Indexing a 2.3 for TTDC is very critical because the pointer is on the cover for timing and they are all off to some degree. So a reference or witness mark is critical when the engine is built other than the cover!!