Question about TDC (Updated) I messed up

[400/6/PAC]

OK So I'm not to good with motors.
How do I know if I'm TDC on the firing stroke?
I need to adjust My hydraulic lifters and I have to start on TDC #1 on the firing stroke.
Thanks

[frederick]

Both valves should be closed, rotor arm pointing to no1 cylinder.

[400/6/PAC]

Thanks Frederick

[firefighter3931]

The piston will be at the top of the bore @ TDC. If you're unsure just pull #1 plug and stick a small section of wire in the hole and feel for the piston. Another way is to bump the engine over while keeping your finger over the #1 plug hole (sparkplug removed) and when the piston comes to TDC it will push air against your fingertip.



Ron

[maxwellwedge]

And remember, using anything other than your finger will hurt!  

[green69rt]

Isn't there a mark on the pulley or harmonic balancer that marks TDC??  That's how you set the timing, that seems the easiest way.  Bump the starter till the mark and the pointer line up, you have TDC on cylinder #1!

[frederick]

Isn't there a mark on the pulley or harmonic balancer that marks TDC??  That's how you set the timing, that seems the easiest way.  Bump the starter till the mark and the pointer line up, you have TDC on cylinder #1!

But you are not necessarily on the firing stroke, 50% chance.

[Todd Wilson]

The piston will be at the top of the bore @ TDC. If you're unsure just pull #1 plug and stick a small section of wire in the hole and feel for the piston. Another way is to bump the engine over while keeping your finger over the #1 plug hole (sparkplug removed) and when the piston comes to TDC it will push air against your fingertip.



Ron

I've always liked to use a straw to put thru the spark plug hole.


Todd

[greenpigs]

So you have valve covers off if your adjusting rocker arms? The second valve spring is the intake. So when it moves and the timing mark lines up with zero, your where you want to be.

[400/6/PAC]

I can't get My finger out of the sparkplug hole.
Just kidding.
Thanks Guy's
That was the confusing part for Me, Which was the firing stroke.
Was it TDC before the intake and combustion stroke or at the end of combustion.
I"m not to lucky when it comes to those 50/50 chances.
I think I got though. going to test the motor tonight.

[Nacho-RT74]

I use a plug made with some paper, on even a bottle cork ( slightly tapped ), that will blow out on TDC when cranking starter motor. you will HEARD THE BLOW...

I made it and works, making small touchs when jumping starter relay

[TylerCharger69]

Harmonic balancer mark on TDC  (0)   and at the same time rotor pointing to cylinder 1 on the distributor cap......

[Troy]

Just a word of caution... not all distributors are indexed/clocked the same way and balancers can "slip" (mine reads 24 degrees when the piston is at TDC). Physically checking the piston location is the best solution.

Troy

[TylerCharger69]

Troy....is that a stock balancer?   Just curious....

[Troy]

Troy....is that a stock balancer?   Just curious....

Yep.

Troy

[TylerCharger69]

Good tid-bit of info there Troy......I never had that occur before.....something to look for in the future!!!

[Ghoste]

It's one of those things that seems to be cropping up more and more here lately as these old cars hit the same basic magic age.

[Nacho-RT74]

Harmonic balancer mark on TDC  (0)   and at the same time rotor pointing to cylinder 1 on the distributor cap......

dunno why, but my balancer have 4 marks

[TylerCharger69]

Yeah....my 440 has 4 marks as well.......

[Nacho-RT74]

honestly my ORIGINAL balancer had just one mark, but since the crank on my engine was seriouslly damaged and I used a Donor engine, I interchanged all the rotation parts from one to the other, including this balancer. Donor was 2 bbls 400... also used the camshaft. I didn't know the difference between 2 and 4 bbls engine cams on those days

[400/6/PAC]

Well
I've really done it this time.
Long read but let Me explain.
It all started when My car wouldn't"t keep timing.
I checked all the exterior parts, even pulled the MSD distributor and had it checked.
No problem with MSD.
I finally decided to check the timing chain, Got down to the chain and didn't really see a problem.
Found no stamps at all on the cam, only some hand scribed #s.
Now having a cam that I knew nothing about, I decided that since I was this far into the motor I would replace the cam.
I got a Mopar performance cam and new lifters.
Installed the cam and checked the centerline, I was off 5 degrees so I installed a button and rechecked.
I sat the piston at TDC, found maximum lift on the lifter, zeroed My degree wheel and dial indicator. Turned the motor until the dial indicator read 0.50 before maximum and recorded the number on the degree wheel, then went back to 0.50 after maximum lift and recorded that number. The two #s added up to 216 divided by two is 108 which is exactly what the cam centerline is.

I reassembled the motor checking all the torque specs, Adjusted the hydraulic lifters and went to turn the motor over.
I  had zero compression and the motor sounds like it's free spinning .
Yes I put the spark plugs in. It also sounds like the starter is about to blow up even though I never touched the starter.
I guess I get to take it all back apart and try to figure out where I went wrong.
I'm going to give Myself one of these and go back to work.
Mabey I should take like A CLASS on how to build motors.

[green69rt]

Sounds like you degreed the cam in right but you also said you put in new lifters.  Oh-Oh!   Thats the first place I would look...and also sounds like that engine top end is coming apart again.  Did you compare the old to the new lifters.  Finally did you really lube up your cam lobes before you spun the engine.  You can wipe a cam lobe in minutes if it isn't lubed right.

Oh, and what do you mean that you adjusted the hydralic lifters?  They're self adjusting.  If you have adjustable rockers and tried to adjust the lifters with no oil in them (fully collapsed) then you may have set your valves up so they never close.  Therefore no compression, and the engine turns like the spark plugs are out.  Also the starter will have greatly reduced load on it and will spin the engine like crazy.

Just some thoughts.

[400/6/PAC]

Yes
I used cam lube.
I did compare the old and new lifters, The'y looked Identical.
It was My understanding that the lifters were to be set at zero lash and then adjusted in 1/2 turn and tighten the locking nut.

[green69rt]

Here's a link to another thread.  See if this helps.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,53658.msg592752.html#msg592752

[400/6/PAC]

Thanks Green69
Yeah, I do remember that thread and revisited it.
So many more questions have come up and so many different people giving the wrong advise ( Meaning all My backyard mechanic friends )
That's why I come here, The advise I get here is almost always correct and if it's not someone else will point out why it"s not correct.
I really thought I did everything the right way.
I don't even know where to start trying to figure out where I went wrong.
It is very frustrating but makes Me want to learn motors inside and out.