I have an 89 camaro with a 350 carburated. I am pretty sure that it is an LT 1. the only timing mark on the cover is I am assuming tdc. can I just buy a timing tab and time it that way. the balancer is marked

 

There is a tab welded to the middle of the timing chain cover? If so, no you can't use a regular bolt on timing tab. There were engines that had the timing tab welded to the cover, and these have to be used with a matching balancer that has the timing mark in a different place than balancers that were used in the much more common bolt on tab applications.

If you mix the 2 different types, you're timing mark will be way off. You could use a tool to find TDC and mark your balancer in a place to correspond with a bolt on tab.

Oh yeah, I presume this is an old style engine, not a gen 4 LT 1; don't know anything about those, skipped right to the LS1.

 

the timing chain cover doesnt really have a tab its just a notch , it has no
degree marks or anything like that. Any suggestions?

 

It could be a gen 4 lt1 with a carb intake and hei type distributor. If you use a piston stop find tdc then bolt on a timing tab and use degree tape around the balancer.