[DAVID GAGNARD]

Tim;


The way I do it is just before I bolt the heads on I add most if not all the front dress and harmonic balancer. Then with my home made tool with a dial indicator I get # 1 to Top Dead Center and set my timing pointer to TDC on the harmonic balancer..... I have had to use different pointers a time or two as I was using parts form different engines. You may find this especailly on Chevy's as they had many different pointer configuratiosn over the years. Ford did also,but I find not as many. Once you have # 1 on TDC and you set the timing pointer to TDC on your harmonic balancer you are sure everything is o-k and can proceed to finish the engine with no worrys about the timing being off when you try to start it the first time.

Also, this is a good check on your timing chain to make sure you are not off a little. If things do not line up or you are not sure it is easier to find the problem now than when the engine is complete and in the car.

A lot of timing chain sets come with three different keyways,straight up,plus 2 or 4 degrees, and minus 2 or 4 degrees. It is not hard to set it plus or minus when putting things together,especially if there are a bunch a guys there to "help".

David