Finding TDC Help ASAP

[Minion1186]

is it possible to find top dead center when both the carburetor and distributor are off the engine?I'm already starting on taking my ccc carb and distributor off my 307 for a swap and i need to know how to find tdc without the carb and distributor on it?Need this information asap

 

[83cutlassowner]

your carb isnt going to matter at all. the easiset way to find tdc is with the valve covers off. that way you can see what the valves are doing

 

[Minion1186]

so its ok if i remove the carb but not the distributor?I sorry i never did a carb and distributor swap before

 

[83cutlassowner]

so its ok if i remove the carb but not the distributor?I sorry i never did a carb and distributor swap before

well i'm not 100% sure. its been awhile but i believe it shouldnt matter. you just have to make sure the car is on top dead center compression with the rotor on cylinder #1 when you put it in. its been awhile though so i cant be 100% sure. another way to tell if the piston is getting close is to cover the spark plug hole with your finger. when you feel it quite pushing air and just starts to suck you should be pretty close. you can also verify by the valve position

 

[Minion1186]

thanks man

 

[83cutlassowner]

if it was me i would just turn the thing over by wrench with the dist in and once your on top dead center remove it and install the new distributer the exact same way the other one was. you need to make sure its facing the right direction when you put it in ... not 180 off for example

 

[Bonnewagon]

If the distributor is in pull the cap and look at the rotor. When you crank the motor around and the rotor comes to #1 plug wire on the cap, then check the timing mark on the balancer by the numbers on the timing cover- the line should be at "0" degrees. That's TDC. If distributor is out do as stated above, remove valve cover and watch the exhaust valve open and close on cylinder #1, then the intake. Then watch for your timing mark to come around on the balancer and again it should be at "0". That's tdc. A shadetree way is to pull #1 spark plug and put your finger in the hole. As you crank the motor the compression will force your finger out-or you will feel the air rush out. Timing mark should be coming up on "0". That's TDC. Beware that the distributor may not line up with the oil pump drive shaft and you may need to turn it a bit with a big long screwdriver. Complicating things is the fact that the distributor gear as it meets the camshaft gear causes the distributor shaft to rotate a bit so you need to allow for that as you drop it in. Look at that- 3 replies within 3 seconds!

 

[pontiacgp]

why do you need to find TDC.....if your changing your distributor check the location of the rotor before you remove the distributor and line up the new on in the same location.....you can always put a mark on the intake where the rotor is pointing to make it easy to line up the new one..

 

[83cutlassowner]

If the distributor is in pull the cap and look at the rotor. When you crank the motor around and the rotor comes to #1 plug wire on the cap, then check the timing mark on the balancer by the numbers on the timing cover- the line should be at "0" degrees. That's TDC. If distributor is out do as stated above, remove valve cover and watch the exhaust valve open and close on cylinder #1, then the intake. Then watch for your timing mark to come around on the balancer and again it should be at "0". That's tdc. A shadetree way is to pull #1 spark plug and put your finger in the hole. As you crank the motor the compression will force your finger out-or you will feel the air rush out. Timing mark should be coming up on "0". That's TDC. Beware that the distributor may not line up with the oil pump drive shaft and you may need to turn it a bit with a big long screwdriver. Complicating things is the fact that the distributor gear as it meets the camshaft gear causes the distributor shaft to rotate a bit so you need to allow for that as you drop it in. Look at that- 3 replies within 3 seconds!

yeah i forgot about the timing marks. lol the 350 i just took out of my chevy truck was missing the timing marks but yeah it just depends on if the distributor is in or not. either way you can find top dead center.

 

[Minion1186]

Thats why i like this forum,when people like me need help asap,people come.I'll continue to take the carburetor off but not the distributor,i plan on also removing the dumb smog wires and the ungodly array of vaccum hoses on my 307.thanks a lot guys for the replies so quick.