Timing Marks!

[vette]

What is the real reason why there were never any linear/vernier timing marks on the big Healey’s crank damper? It seems to me that if it was left vague deliberately because of the varied use of the engine that they could have at least put a scale on the damper? Then again maybe this need of mine is mostly because of my persnickety disposition vice any real logic.
Thanks.

 

[GregW]

Because the engine designers knew that one day, a dialback timing light would be invented.

 

[vette]

 

[RCarr]

I made one and had to file notches in the pully for TDC. Calculation is simple, just measure diameter of the pully. But, as Greg states, we don't need it anymore.

 

[vette]

Very nice job. For the last 25 years I have been just eye balling about 1/2 “ give or take about a 32nd of an inch. Just thought they could have made it easier on me.

 

[red57]

Ray, Very elegant solution! I like my 40 year old timing light because I've heard too many horror stories about the dial-back lights.

Dave

 

[vette]

I must confess, I don't even know how to use a dial back timing light. What's that all about?

 

[John Turney]

I can't get the new timing lights to work with bumblebee wires. I have to substitute a carbon wire to make it work, so I bought some MSD timing tapes.

 

[GregW]

But, as Greg states, we don't need it anymore.

It depends. I have found that dialbacks don't play well with multi-spark ignition. I called Jacob's when I was having issues. They said I had to use the old analog style timing light.

 

[GregW]

I must confess, I don't even know how to use a dial back timing light. What's that all about?

You would set the timing light to what your car wants. So a BJ8 I think is 12 degrees BTDC. That makes the light fire 12 degrees later which would line it up to the TDC mark on the pulley.

 

[vette]

Cool. Thanks.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

... So a BJ8 I think is 12 degrees BTDC...

15. There was a discussion somewhere a while back that the head design with recessed plug requires it.

 

[GregW]

Thanks Bob. I just found it in the shop manual.