help with timing

[Godspeed]

ok my dumb ass pulled the dist. cap today while attempting to check for shaft play on my turbos and when i put it back in it wont start. i tried turning the dist. but sometimes it sputters a little and sometimes it back fires but i cant seem to get it right i know its supposed to be set at -10btdc but i have no timing light and no way to find top dead center without a compression tool. how else can i figure this out? its my only mode of transportation as of now and my 2 kids have to go to the dentist tommorow so any help would be appreciated. and i cant drive my 86.5 cuz i havent shimmed the lifters or rewired the ks so i need help guys.

 

[jetjock]

Compression tool? Put your finger in the plug hole.

 

[Godspeed]

i have never done it that way and dont want to f@#$ it up

 

[jetjock]

Your finger or the engine? . Put your thumb in #1 plug hole and bring the timing mark to 0TDC. You'll either be there or you'll have to turn it again. Or use a condom or balloon.. Course, with two kids you prolly don't have any condoms handy . You could always take the valve cover off.

You should always set the engine to TDC before you pull a dizzy. Of course, if you don't turn the engine when the dizzy is out you don't even have to do that. Just mark the dizzy before removing it. Same goes with the CPS on a 7MGTE.

 

[Godspeed]

lol the engine. so just turn the crank until the timing mark is at 0 tdc then what turn it back just a hair? i removed all of the power steering today would that have anything to do with it? i wouldnt think so but you never know

 

[jetjock]

Yes, your looking for TDC on the compression stroke right? Turn it to 0 with your thumb on the hole. You'll know when you're on the compression stroke. If you want you can even drop a pencil or a rod in the hole and "peak" it while rocking the crank but that shouldn't be needed. When your thumb gets blown off just stop at 0 and you'll be there. Back it off 10, set the dizzy to number one and install. Time with light. Why are you pulling dizzys if you don't own a light? . You could also cheat and use a DMM but you'd have to know the wiring.

Nah, PS shouldn't have anything to do with this. What is the car? Wait...did you pull the dizzy or just the cap? If just the cap put it'll only go on one way so the problem could be elsewhere.

 

[Godspeed]

when you sayset it to #1 what exactly do you mean? yes i pulled the whole dist. thats the only way i could remove the turbo pipe.

 

[jetjock]

when you sayset it to #1 what exactly do you mean? yes i pulled the whole dist. thats the only way i could remove the turbo pipe.

Set the rotor on the dizzy so it points at number one plug tower on the cap. If need be place the cap on the dizzy to get an idea where that should be. What you want to end up with is the engine at TDC (or close) on the compression stroke with the rotor at the number one plug tower in the cap. You can either leave it there or time by ear until you can get a light on it. It'll run just fine as long as it's close.

 

[Godspeed]

the dizzy is on the side of the engine. so i make the rotor button point at no 1 right then set time to -10?

 

[Godspeed]

thanks guys i got it started today it may not be in perfect time but its running so i can throw a light on it.