Timing marks

get yourself a timing light with an advance dial in it so you can just use zero,,, much easier

Do what obnoxus said.
To make it easier get some white out and mark the balancer and the timing mark.

Hummmmm...another one time use, new tool.
No disrespect guys and thanks but I just want to get it where the guy told me to and try it from there. There is only about 4 original parts to this motor and I'm sure I will be playing with it for a week or two finding the sweet spot with the local gas and such. I guess what I really need is what are the readings for the points?
Thanks again.

f_inscreenname said:

I guess what I really need is what are the readings for the points?
Thanks again.

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each point, and each valley is 2 degrees. The big V is O*, then work your way to the top of the mark 2-4-6-8 advanced and so on. Below the big V is retarded. Stock Merc balancers should have timing marks on them, so you can do the advance. 30* is low. 32-34 is better.

f_inscreenname said:

It seems to run (the second day having it running in the driveway) smooth right at the red mark but have no clue if it’s right.
Any help?

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If you are running it at the red mark, its at 2* advance at idle. the timing at idle means little to nothing, unless you know how much your Dist is advancing the timing. You need to set timing at ~ 3000 RPM, and you want all your timing in by then at a minimum. 32 to 34 as I said is best, but if your builder is saying 30, set it there, but he's talking about the max advance, not the at idle advance.

Thanks folks. That's what I needed.

opie272 said:

Just for argument sake :laugher:
If he has a 24V thunderbolt IV ignition and the idle timing is set at 6 ...Then is his total advance not 30?

If I want 35 total advance and have a 24V module I set idle initial timing @ 11 and continue this line of thinking?

Or am I full of S*** as always?! :laugher:

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Yes, if you know what advance your Dist is making, then you can just set initial and be good to go. So in your examples of the TB4, 24* Dist advance plus 6* initial is 30*. I have always checked it at RPM, to make sure that the advance is working as it should, and that it is maxing where I want it (usually 3000 at most)

Again thank you all.
Yes I have a TB IV ignition and see I am set way to low and for that matter understand much better how it all works now. I'm going to take it up to 6* to 8* and start from there.
Thanks again.