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For the future to save people an hour of learning, here is how to check and adjust the timing on Chevy 350 engines. Excuse my laymans descriptions, but it will show that it takes almost no mechanical ability to set the timing correctly.
Tools needed:
Basic Set of wrenches
Timing Light
White out/chalk for marking pulleys
Time: 30 mins. maximum
1. Disconnect lifting shocks on motor box to open it all the way.
2. Start engine and bring to operating temp. Turn off engine and look at the crank pulley (bottom most pulley with the raw water pump attached). Disconnect the safety lanyard and bump the motor over until you can see the timing marks on the pulley. There will be a line in the middle which is Top Dead Center (see picture).
3. Take white out/chalk and mark the pulley to make it easy to see the Top Dead Center mark when using your timing light.
4. Locate the bracket above the pulley that has the marks for setting the timing. It should have degree readings so you know which to mark. Use the white out/chalk again and mark 10 degrees Below Top Dead Center on the bracket. It will be obvious where to mark when you see it (see picture, yellow mark is 10 degrees BTDC).
5. The timing light will have 3 connectors. Connect the first two to the battery, and attach the third to the #1 spark plug wire. The #1 spark plug wire is at the front right.
6. To set the timing, the engine must be put into diagnostic mode. The easiest way to do this is take a paper clip and use it as a jumper to jump pins A and B of the data connector on the back of the engine. This connector is in the main wiring harness by itself and has a gray and black cover on it (see bad picture). The pins are marked so it will be easy to know where to put the paper clip. Stick one end of the paper clip in pin A and the other end in pin B. When you start the engine it should idle at 1000 RPMs.
7. Start the engine and then point the timing light at the crank pulley. If the timing is correct the markings will match up with each other.
8. If timing needs to be adjusted, loosen the bolt at the bottom of the distributor to allow the distributor to turn. If the timing is too advanced, turn the distributor counter clockwise and vice versa if the timing needs to be advanced. A little turn does a lot so make small changes.
9. Once the timing is set properly, retighten the bolt on the distributor to lock it in place.
10. Remove the paper clip and you're done.
Tools needed:
Basic Set of wrenches
Timing Light
White out/chalk for marking pulleys
Time: 30 mins. maximum
1. Disconnect lifting shocks on motor box to open it all the way.
2. Start engine and bring to operating temp. Turn off engine and look at the crank pulley (bottom most pulley with the raw water pump attached). Disconnect the safety lanyard and bump the motor over until you can see the timing marks on the pulley. There will be a line in the middle which is Top Dead Center (see picture).
3. Take white out/chalk and mark the pulley to make it easy to see the Top Dead Center mark when using your timing light.
4. Locate the bracket above the pulley that has the marks for setting the timing. It should have degree readings so you know which to mark. Use the white out/chalk again and mark 10 degrees Below Top Dead Center on the bracket. It will be obvious where to mark when you see it (see picture, yellow mark is 10 degrees BTDC).
5. The timing light will have 3 connectors. Connect the first two to the battery, and attach the third to the #1 spark plug wire. The #1 spark plug wire is at the front right.
6. To set the timing, the engine must be put into diagnostic mode. The easiest way to do this is take a paper clip and use it as a jumper to jump pins A and B of the data connector on the back of the engine. This connector is in the main wiring harness by itself and has a gray and black cover on it (see bad picture). The pins are marked so it will be easy to know where to put the paper clip. Stick one end of the paper clip in pin A and the other end in pin B. When you start the engine it should idle at 1000 RPMs.
7. Start the engine and then point the timing light at the crank pulley. If the timing is correct the markings will match up with each other.
8. If timing needs to be adjusted, loosen the bolt at the bottom of the distributor to allow the distributor to turn. If the timing is too advanced, turn the distributor counter clockwise and vice versa if the timing needs to be advanced. A little turn does a lot so make small changes.
9. Once the timing is set properly, retighten the bolt on the distributor to lock it in place.
10. Remove the paper clip and you're done.
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