Timing Pointer Relocate?

[Steve Siedlecki]

Has anyone had the problem of seeing the timing pointer under the water pump of a 351W ? I can't really see it to time properly. Does anyone know how to change or reposition it to the other side of the block. I'm running a ford motorsports steel damper. With a stock timing pointer on the timing cover.
Thanks,
Steve

[427sharpe]

Hard to reposition--youd have to redegree the damper as well--try painting the pointer brite white, or polish it in bare metal to a hi luster, and paint the lines on the damper white (spray the whole damper and rub off all but the paint in the lines). This should help a lot. On my 429 based motor I found the bright white to be the best.

[Cobra20646]

Steve,
If your handy enough to fashion another pointer for the right side of the motor, try this. It worked for me.
1. Adjust the timing for exact TDC.
2. Move your timing lite pickup to cylinder TWO. You should now see the timing marks on the right side of the engine.
3. Locate your new timing pointer so that it agrees with TDC on the damper wheel.
Should be good to go now.
- Jim -


PS - if your tring to relocate to the left side of the car, just find a cylinder that fires and lights up the timing marks on that side of the car. Should be number 5 then I think.

[SuperHart]

Timing Pointer? WHAT timing pointer? You mean there is a timing pointer hidden in all the mess of hoses, pullys, hardware, and other garbage stuck on the front of my engine? Well, I'll be.

Seriously, I have exactly the same problem and wondered just what Ford was thinking when they designed these engines. I know it's blasphemous to say this but the small block Chevy motors are so much easier to put together and read because of their design. I agree with Cobra20646 on how to relocate the timing pointer but then you have the problem of figuring out just where to attach the new pointer to the engine. I seem to remember that some company produces stick on timing tapes for dampers with clearly marked degrees. One of these tapes would make visualization much clearer.

I will follow this thread uoping that someone will have a really trick solution (other than removing the water pump).

[SuperHart]

Timing Pointer? WHAT timing pointer? You mean there is a timing pointer hidden in all the mess of hoses, pullys, hardware, and other garbage stuck on the front of my engine? Well, I'll be.

Seriously, I have exactly the same problem and wondered just what Ford was thinking when they designed these engines. I know it's blasphemous to say this but the small block Chevy motors are so much easier to put together and read because of their design. I agree with Cobra20646 on how to relocate the timing pointer but then you have the problem of figuring out just where to attach the new pointer to the engine. I seem to remember that some company produces stick on timing tapes for dampers with clearly marked degrees. One of these tapes would make visualization much clearer.

I will follow this thread uoping that someone will have a really trick solution (other than removing the water pump).