VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans timing marks on flywheel

I pulled the distributor out of the block on my '49 Chevy 216 motor and I suspect that I didn't get the thing back in right because now the motor is running really rough. To complicate matters, the only marking I can find on the flywheel is a little triangle, a small o and U/C. There is no pointer on the the flywheel housing near the timing hole either. Any ideas on how to go about re-timing this thing.
Thanks

If you don't have a shop manual or a timing light try loosening the clamp and rotate the distributor back and forth till it runs smooth.

Hook a timing light top #1 cylinder spark plug wire (the front one) and set the octane selector to "0". The "0" on the flywheel you see, is a small metal ball imbedded in the flywheel and, as I recall, is 5° advanced position. Put a little dab of white paint on the ball to make it show up better with the timing light. If you don't have a 6v timing light, use a remote 12v battery.

Run the engine and adjust the distributor until the ball is centered on the flywheel housing pointer and tighten upn the distributor. You can make small adjustments with the octane selector, if needed.

-Bob

I think that I would static time the engine before running it. You'll get real close to correct timing and you can make the final adjustments using your timing light if need be.

Thanks,
I will put the paint on the little ball, but that still doesn't answer what I line it up with when I use the timing light. There is no arrow or mark on the flywheel housing where the timing hole is.

There is supposed to be a metal pointer sticking out from the bell housing in the center of the timing hole. If it is missing, then line up the little steel ball so that it is in the center of the timing hole.

Maybe uneccessary advice, but make sure that the distributor is fully seated. It is possible to have it installed far enough for the engine to run, but not far enough to engage the oil pump.