I have this in GM gas but only 8 views 0 replies sorry if I'm putting this in the wrong place. Ok this is another of many dilemmas I have faced with my first SB chevy rebuild.Just a reminder that this IS a 79 400 btw.Ok here goes,... When I started rebuilding this thing I knew I wasn't very good with the whole timing thing and have been worried about it the whole time doing this.When I first pulled the distributor I made 2 marks on it for the rotor. Mark 1: Rotor unmoved/final resting place as far as pointing direction, Mark 2:location of rotor AS SOON as it had turned out of the internal gear after being pulled up. Now heres the trouble, The crank HAD been moved while the Distributor was out of the motor I had made a mental note that the timing groove on the damper was at 8 degrees BTDC because one source said it fired at 8 dg BTDC, and another claims 4 dg BTDC.Now, I have returned it to that and aligned the marks, and my timing still isn't right. How and where do I re-set this and get it right with the rotor pointing at the #1 cyl. Is it 4 or 8 dg BTDC or neither?I lined up the marks I had and irt was actin like it was trying to start but did no more than shoot flames out of the open headers.that was cool the first couple times but since it won't start and iI know it's because the timings off,it's become quite annoying. I am so lost in timing land, I forgot my own name.Where does it fire at, where should I set the damper mark (degrees), and where should I point the rotor?
I will offer what little advise I have. I have never been deep into a SB chevy before. but I think what you need to do is remove the distributor completely and move the #1 piston to TDC. Then your timing grove should be at 0* TDC. I am not sure if your Distributor housing has an Alignment mark on it or not. If it does then there should be a matching one on the block and drop it in so that they match up. opcorn: I could be really far off but figured Id take a stab at it anyway. Let me know if I am full of crap! rotfl
you are right on that and I had it like thatbut i found out that timing wasn't my problem.I had my valve lash too tight :doah: and the valves were all open if not most of them.I loosened it and it fired right up!
well i finally got her to crank it while I turned the dist and when I saw the constant flame out of the headers while it was cranking I realized that it wasn't right and it looked like the valves weren't closing.and well that was the problem.now if I could just figure out how to tune this carb and get it to hold a steady idle.lol.It'll run with my foot on the gas but not when I let off.
