Thread: Timing 180 degrees out

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1979 SBC 350, HEI distributor. Bought a project rig and am going through it and found the timing mark on the harmonic balancer is 180 degrees out. For troubleshoot, brought #1 piston to TDC on compression stroke and verified mark is exactly 180 degrees out. Checked distributor and plug wire routing orientation and found correct. Using cyl #4 plug wire to set timing engine runs good. Could the harmonic balance be slipped exactly 180 degrees, or could the harmonic balance have two keyways on it allowing it to be installed 180 out, or could the cam timing be set 180 degrees out causing this anomaly. Baffled. Thanks for your help.

is the rubber on the dampner pukeing out if so it has rotated.

if you have the timing cover off line up the dots this will set you up to fire on number 6 first but is easer to make sureyou have valve timing correct. now if you rotate crank 1 turn this will put both dots up engine readdy to fire on #1. now slide your dampner on until you know the keyway is lined up compare the timming mark to your timming cover and the mark should be in the range of the timming tab if not the dampner is bad.

Originally posted by big489
is the rubber on the dampner pukeing out if so it has rotated.

if you have the timing cover off line up the dots this will set you up to fire on number 6 first but is easer to make sureyou have valve timing correct. now if you rotate crank 1 turn this will put both dots up engine readdy to fire on #1. now slide your dampner on until you know the keyway is lined up compare the timming mark to your timming cover and the mark should be in the range of the timming tab if not the dampner is bad.

do you have the correct dampner 2 different dampners for this engine one the timming mark is straight up the other is in the 1-2 o'clock position if dampner is wrong hten this condition can occur

Thanks for all the suggestions. This vehicle is a mixed bag of mods and parts over several years. The engine runs very strong with no pops. I inspected the damper again and there is an even fillet of rubber protruding on the front face all the way around. Nothing that appears bad or unusual. The damper spins true. My only guess is that it has the wrong damper, or the cam timing is off. Your thoughts please!!!

Just pull the balancer if all is installed right with the ignition rotor pionted pretty close to number 1 cyl ( number 1 cylinder being at top dead center) the key way on the crankshaft should be between 1 o'clock and 2 o'clock posistion....if it is.... the inertia ring is slipped.....which is very common in sbc's especially if revved passed 6,000rpm

Great suggestion, I'll give it a try. If I find the key way off, then I'll pull the cover and check the cam timing. As you suggest, it is probably a slipped damper. Thanks.