TIMINIG ISSUES

[57fordf100]

iv been trying to do the timing on my truck but on the balancer there aint no marks or nothing i tried feeling around to see if i can feel little groves or something and nothing its all smooth the whole way around how can i figure it out or maybe make new marks with something please help

[george worley]

The best thing I can tell you to do is to pull #1 spark plug and crank it till it is up on the compression stroke(you should feel air coming out) stop right there and take the dist cap off and the rotor should be on or close to #1 plug wire on the cap. Look and see where the pointer on the timing case is pointing to,maybe you will be able to see a mark. If you can't see amark make one,that shoul be close to tdc. put a timing light on it and see where it is from the mark you made. This method is trial and error but it should help you get it timed,

[57fordf100]

were should i make the mark from my number one is on the left side

[flyboy2610]

Make it on the balancer, right where the pointer is. Use some white paint, such as you get in the little jars to paint plastic models with.
I have heard of situations where the marks on the balancer are 180 degrees off, such as if a PO reinstalled the balancer with the # 1 piston at TDC on the exhaust stroke, instead of the compression stroke. After you make the mark, rotate the engine 180 degrees and see if the marks show up.
The factory timing marks are permanently engraved on the balancer, they have to be there.