'harmonic dampener' Timing HELP!

[b.rad]

Need help with this. Long story short. Have a 62,000 origanal mile 1986 305 that was running to put in my wagon. Was just goning to clean it up and wanted to replace some gaskests and put a steel timing set in (to replace the factory nylon gear) So here is the deal, relaced the timing set pulled the old one off put the new one on just like the old one came off rolled it up to the cam gear dot @ 12o'clock and the crank gear @ 12 o'clock wich i beleive is TDC the #1 piston is at the top of its stroke The #1- I & E valves and the #6- I & E valves are closed the key way on the crank is @ about the 2 o'clock position but the problem is the mark on the 'harmonic dampener' is at about 10 o'clock and 0' on the timing tab is at 12 o'clock. Did I F' sumthin up ? Is this some crazy 80's smog motor BS ? Or possibly did the outer ring on the 'harmonic dampener' spin ? The motor does rotate CCW if I remember right so that kind of makes logic that it would move in that direction. All I know is I would like some input on the subject cause I can't lose any more sleep over it. I want it to run next month when I take my weeks vacation to install it. Thanks.

 

[gbondo57]

Let's see if I can help. 1 Did the front of the engine look like a mix of parts? 2 Is the timing tab snug to the damper OD surface? If the tab has a gap between it and the damper, the cover and damper are not matched. The keyway in the crank always lines up with the #1 cylinder centerline. (Should point straight up the right side, @ 45 deg. looking at the front) The older 72 or 73 and back, the key and timing mark lined up on the damper. When the timing mark was moved up top, (behind the wtr pmp)the key stayed aligned with #1, but the mark moved. I have found mixed covers and dampers on the same engine. If separation has occured, the rubber should have some dissintegration. The 305 damper is 6 3/4" dia., 350 is 8" If there is a finger width between, its a mix. The rule is that the crank key lines up with the 1 3 5 7 cylinder centerline. hope this helps. Looking at the engine from the front it rotates clockwise.8)

 

[pontiacgp]

It sounds like your ok with the timing chain. You has the dots lined up correctly and the key was at 2 oclock. Rotate the engine and see how it lines up then

 

[b.rad]

Ok thanks for the input. I just got a new balancer yesterday and everything lins right up. I guess the outer ring moved benn messing with cars over 20 years never seen that before. Oh well stranger things have happened. Thanks again