Thread: Timing Question

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I fired up my new engine over New Years Break. It's an 1971 460 with DOVE-C heads. I bought the long block rebuilt from a major engine rebuilder with a great reputation. I then put my peripheral stuff on including A Mallory Unitlite distributor with a Mallory internal resister coil and an inline surge suppressor.
I followed the directions for installing the Distributor from both Mallory and my engine rebuild book. The distributor dropped in at TDC on compression stroke for the number 1 cylinder. I then wired the ignition circuit with my American Autowire kit, and fired up the engine. It started first time. I timed it by ear and proceeded with cam break in , per warranty info provided by long block manufacturer. I should also note the timing chain was aligned properly between the cam and the crank by manufacturer before I put the timing chain cover on I checked this.

So with the above info
I then connected the timing light to the number one cylinder wire, and checked my timing settings. The timing was showing 50 degrees before top dead center, and running fine. Not sure what may be the problem. The timing light is relatively new(a few years old) and everything sounds and runs fine.
The only thing I can think of is I left my wires long until I can get some wire looms to properly trim them to length. They were overlapping the number 1 wire during the timing. I haven't retried the timing since my gas tank had a leak from one of my connectors that needed to be tightened and sealed, so next time I get out to the shop, I'll be able to refire it up again and recheck the timing.
In the mean time has anyone ever experienced this? Any ideas as to what could be wrong, i.e. wires off by one one the distributor cap?

I know some timing lights do not get along with some ignition systems......not sure if that is the problem on yours ,but you might want to do some reading on it.


Could be a timing pointer location problem too,not sure....but those 2 would be a good start to eliminate first.

Originally Posted by shawnlee28

I know some timing lights do not get along with some ignition systems......not sure if that is the problem on yours ,but you might want to do some reading on it.


Could be a timing pointer location problem too,not sure....but those 2 would be a good start to eliminate first.

Your the second person to mention the light, so I may borrow one and see if that's the problem. The timing marker is stock, however the timing cover is new as is the harmonic balancer, so those two things also could be the issue. Thanks for the advice, these both make sense to me.

Originally Posted by stovens

Your the second person to mention the light, so I may borrow one and see if that's the problem. The timing marker is stock, however the timing cover is new as is the harmonic balancer, so those two things also could be the issue. Thanks for the advice, these both make sense to me.

Just as a precaution. I'd verify the timing pointer does align with the marks on the damper. Mine do / did not on my small block. And it's all stock too, just from different suppliers. I used timing tape to straighten out my woes.

Not sure about the 460, but my 302 has three sets of marks on the balancer, and two of them are almost exactly 50* apart. My engine builder (Scot Sehr) marked one "0" along with the tip of the pointer with a red paint dot and said, "Use this one, it is degreed in and dead on TDC." Is it possible that your balancer is marked for a different build? Might be worth a call to your builder to be sure before you chase your tail on it too much.