LarryF_in_Ca

I'm trying to find TDC on my '87 5kCST. I'm able to see the round donut looking mark on the flywheel. It appears when the rotor mark on the distributor is approaching plug #2. (I think that the distributor has been turned by the mechanic who sold it to me) Anyway I'm trying to get the crank mark on the flywheel and at the same time the mark on the camshaft pulley near the oil fill cap to lineup. I'm using a straw to see the travel of cylinder #1.

I need help because I can't seem to get the two timing marks to line up.
I really don't think that the timing belt has been altered since the car has about 77,000 original miles.

Can someone please give me some info. How many times does the crank turn in relation to the camshaft, and there is only 360 degrees of turn in which piston #1 will be either on compression or exhaustion stroke right, or am I missing something??
Thanks.

selfproclaimedv8buff

the flywheel turns once for two times the camshaft pulley. when your flywheel is on TDC ... your camshaft should also be on TDC. the rotor on your distributor should point to the #1 cylinder on the cap. if not .. your timing must be off.

LarryF_in_Ca

At what clock postion should Number 1 be pointed at on the distributor. My car has #1 at around 7:00. Is this roughly where the mark should be?

SteveAngry

Read the middle of this page for more info:

Steve
Michigan<ul><li><a href="http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/TROUBLE_SHOOTING/eng.html#tim">http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/TROUBLE_SHOOTING/eng.html#tim</a</li></ul>

Twisted5000

This was strange for us too... There were a ton of rogue marks

audiqv8

The crank shaft turn two times for every one turn of the cam shaft, which is why you rotate the crank shaft 360 degree if the cam shaft don't line up the first time.

Get the crank shaft and the cam shaft to line up. Remove the distributor or loosen the distributor bolt if it is close and rotate the distributor to line up the marks.

LarryF_in_Ca

Does the cylinder have to be on the compression stroke ?? If so then there could possible be four combinations to the timing marks lining up. With the one that lines up both the cam and crank on compression stroke ??

(intake, compression, power, exhaust)

So it will only line up on compression right?

audiqv8

right!!! crank and cam will only line up in the compression stroke. use the flywheel to line up the crank mark, then check to see if the cam mark line up, if not rotate the crank 360 degree and verify that the cam mark line up. Afterward pull the distributor cap and verify that the rotor is close to number 1 cylinder.

Since this engine has never run for you, then I would also do a compression test. This will prove that the valves aren't bent. You should get between 120 and 150 psi.