I can't seem to get my timing even close... I have a goodwrench 350 block and crank. The balancer is an ATI superdamper 6.325" and I have a timing tabe on the side. For some reason when the car is idleing and I have the vacuum advance capped off, the timing is reading 50 degrees and If I try to bring it back even close to where it has to go it just stalls out. any ideas?
thanks

 

I would check to make sure that the timing marks on the damper and the distributor position all coincide with the #1 cylinder ATDC. There is the possibility that the distributor is off, the plug wires are not in the correct order, or that the damper's position is not aligned etc. Pull the plugs, pop off the distributor cap and turn the engine over until the #1 cylinder reaches top dead center on it's compression stroke. Check the position of the rotor in relation to the #1 cylinder and the contacts position on the cap/ wires etc. Also check to see if the timing marks on the damper and the timing tab display TDC or if they are off. Good Luck

 

everything seems right.
I know there are 2 types of timing tabs, one on the top and one on the side, how do you know which one you need?

 

If you have the timing mark on the balancer aligned with the timing mark on the tab and it all coincides with the #1 piston at top dead center of the compression stroke then you are golden as far as the crank and balancer are concerned. The next step would be to check where the distributor rotor is pointing in relation to the pistons top dead center. The timing tab is just a referrence measurement. As long as it is lined up correctly when the engine is not running, it will give you the referrence point to make your adjustments. I am not familiar with any other timing tabs than the stock location for a small block and big block chevy. If your balancer's timing mark does not line up with the timing tab with the piston at top dead center of the compression stroke, then try drawing a chalk line on the balancer where the timing tab indicates top dead center should be, then check your timing using the chalk line and see if it reads and will adjust correctly. Possibly the aftermarket balancer requires a different tab location.?

 

Or you could be 180 degrees retarded. Who installed the dizzy?

 

If it's running fine until you try to adjust the timing, it's probably your pointer is off. A lot of these old SB's had 8" dampers. The only way your going to know for sure is to get a degree wheel and fine TDC. Then get an adjustable pointer, so you can set 0*.

 

Is this on the TPI motor? Are you unplugging the brown wire that goes to the dist. so the computer doesnt try to "fix" the timing while your trying to adjust it? Its on the pass. side around the A/C box.

Hope this helps.

 

one on side is for 6 3/4 " balancer
top is 8"