I have a fresh built Rocket 350 in a 1972 88. I have an issue with the timing marks. I followed the guides by the haynes book. It said to put gears aligned with each other to the marks. Top at 6 and bottom at 12 o'clock with # 1 @ TDC.

Th engine starts and runs fine but the issue is the timing mark is at 12 o'clock and nowhere the timing gauge.

The balancer is original as is everything but the cam and gears.
Any ideas what I could have done wrong? Why is the mark with a timing light so far off?
Thanks JImmy

 

I don't understand the question. Is this with the engine running with a timing light, or the engine off?

 

Welcome to the site... What happens when you attempt to move the distributor so that the balancer timing mark aligns with the timing indicator??? Also, since you changed the cam, it is possible the timing spec for the new cam is somewhat different then the original factory cam... What are the new cam's timing instructions???

 

Is the vacuum advance hooked up? Did you recurve the distributor? Original points distributor?

 

I haven't checked the specs on the new cam. I will do and keep you informed. Thanks Jimmy

 

When moving the dist to the mark it will barley run and I have to keep the RPM up high even get a reading with the light. The car engine runs perfect with the balance r indicator @ 12 o'clock (the scribed line). I can cheat and put on a tape to the balancer but really curious why it has changed so much.

 

The engine is running when I put the timing light on. The scribbled line is @ 12 o'clock @ 800 rpms. It should be near the gauge around 2:30 in order to set the timing @ 8 degrees. Thanks Jimmy

 

Do you have the timing light hooked to the #1 spark plug? Are you running points, points replacement, or an HEI distributor? When you st your timing, you may have to turn the idle screw up on the carb.

 

The timing light is hooked up @1 wire. I am running original pointed distributor. Just a stupid question but is it possible that I have the wires on the distributor 1 off that would create the timing mark to be in the wrong place? I am pretty good with the Chevy 283's 327's. 350's. 400's 454 and other blocks from the chevy family.
This olds just has me stumped. The chiltons is about as wrong as it can be with the procedure I discovered. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Jimmy

 

No the distributor does not care if your 1 tooth off. First make sure your dwell is at 30 or the point gap set to .016. Disconnect and plug your vacuum advance tube. Hook up a tach and set the idle RPM to 1100 and turn the distributor to 10*. Tighten the hold down clamp. Lower your idle RPM so that the engine idles at 575 in drive (you may need a helper for this), note what your RPM is in park. Connect your vacuum advance line backup. Then readjust your air/fuel mixture screws for the highest rpm while keeping both at an equal amount of turns out from fully closed. In other words you don't want 1 screw turned 7.5 turns while the other is 2.5 turns. You may have to reset your engine RPM back to what you noted earlier.