timing pointer question

[Lynn]

I am almost afraid to ask this, maybe ashamed is a better word. I was looking at timing pointers on the Ford Performance Parts page and they have one for the 10 o'clock position and another for the 11 o'clock position. I am pretty sure that the latter is for Cleveland blocks and the former for Windsor, but can someone confirm or deny this and set me straight?

Thanks,
Lynn

[Frank Catt]

Lynn, I put a timing marker onto the flywheel which is visible through a hole cut into the bellhousing, its the only sensible way to check and adjust timing when the car is built and running. Put the marks at TDC and use a programmable timing light, it can easily be done in the workshop or on the track, Frank

[killroy]

Just find TDC and mark your ballencer accordingly.

That's what I'm doing for my front engine application.

[Lynn]

Frank,

Are you concerned with slippage between the two parts of the balancer causing the marks to go off? I can see where this would not be a worry if the flywheel is marked! If it is access to the front of the crank, my car does have an access panel right in front of the engine. I did check the present engine, to make sure it was set at 10º BTDC as the nominal idle setting with an EFI when the little octane adjuster plug is removed from the distributor wiring. You can put more or less timing in with the distributor in the classic way, but this is not the way to do it with an EFI. I will be adding or subtracting timing in the computer using the TwEECer. I have a table of the nominal advance the computer uses at various rpms up to the point that the maximum advance is used (I forget the exact point where this is reached, but it is in the table.) I will add or subtract from those values to arrive at a desired total timing at each rpm level up until the point where timing reaches its max. (Again, I don't remember the granularity the TwEECer gives you, but it is less than 1000 rpm, and I want to say it is like every 250rpm or 500rpm that you can set fuel and timing trim values.)

The pointer I am acutally looking at buying is adjustable in/and out as well as side to side, so that when I degree the cam I can set the pointer to point at TDC when the engine is at TDC. I have heard of brand new engines where the stock pointer is off by 3º-4º right out of the shoot.

Regards,
Lynn