which is the # 1 cylinder? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dropped72shortbed · 03-27-2002, 08:31 PM

sorry for the silly question. i remember on my buick 350 the #1 cylinder was on the driver side closest to the radiator. my truck doesnt have any numbers on the manifold, plug wires or distributor.

its a 72 with a 350. also do i have to disconnect the vacuum when i set the timing?

REPO1 · 03-27-2002, 08:34 PM

#1 on a 350 is the drivers front.
And yes you have to disconnect the vacuum line going to the distributor AND PLUG IT.

Drivers--------Passenger
#1.............#2
#3.............#4
#5.............#6
#7.............#8

------------------
Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada

1970 Chevy C20 Custom Camper
#s matching 402BB Turbo 400 trans.
Air conditioning, power steering, manual brakes.
73,600 Original Miles!!

[This message has been edited by REPO1 (edited March 27, 2002).]

69 longhorn · 03-27-2002, 08:35 PM

Front ,drivers side....69 longhorn

ebfabman · 03-27-2002, 08:37 PM

the number one cylinder is on the driver side closest to the radiator

dropped72shortbed · 03-27-2002, 08:53 PM

ok when i hooked up the timing light to that cylinder and flashed the little points on the balance no mark showed up. i turned off the truck and found the groove in the balancer.

so what gives? the marks completely not lined up with the little timing points. it seems to run pretty good so its not like it could be off that much. how do i go about finding out where the mark should be?

dropped72shortbed · 03-27-2002, 09:00 PM

should i just set the 1 cyl to top dead center then make a mark on the balancer to point at 0 or top dead center

72gmc1/2ton · 03-27-2002, 09:24 PM

is your mark on the balancer white if not try using white-out on it and it will show up when you shine the light on it.

Andy4639 · 03-27-2002, 09:58 PM

No do not remark it. Take the distributer loose and crank the engine and set it to about 6 degree's are 8 before top dead center. That should put you in the ball park. If you have a tach, you will want it to be around 6000, or 7000 with straight drive. If you have a automatic and air it should be around 8000, so when you turn the air on, it want die. You may have to reajust your idle speed to do this. Hope this helps. Andy

------------------
Andy
71's Are for ever!!! or 67,68,69,70,72 http://geocities.com/chevy71tpi/main.html

mooneyes · 03-27-2002, 09:58 PM

always remember #1 is the head sitting farthest foward on the block

------------------
70 short step from vegas woo hoo !!!Ken Lyons Slippery Rock PA yahoo messenger:mooneyes4b "things always look different from higher up" Clint Eastwood (fist full of dollars)

Longhorn Man · 03-27-2002, 10:03 PM

Take a zero off of andy's numbers up there... don't wanna put a window in your block.

------------------
'69 G.M.C. 350/350. Trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man
I've been dubbed the Longhorn Freak/Fanatic/Expert, I just hope I can live up to it.
Need to pick up the one ton Longhorn with a PONTIAC 350/350soon.
Thanks every one!

Check out The Longhorn Webite.
If you need a pic posted, E-mail me at longhornmail@yahoo.com
Andy, in Columbus Ohio

PanelDeland · 03-27-2002, 11:12 PM

You will not see the timing mark if you haven't disconnected the vacuum.It will be advanced too much.Marking the groove on the balancer with white is the only way this old fart can see the mark anymore.I got a great timing light with a dial back feature that lets me see how much advance I have at any given engine speed.(God Bless Great Wives.)

------------------
Deland does Chevys 68Chevy panel(LIZ)
"A man and his truck,it's a beautiful thing"
"I have the body of a god,unfortunately it's Budda"

67chevelle · 03-27-2002, 11:44 PM

PanelDeland is right..If you buy a new timing light, get the type that has the dial on the back that allows you to adjust it to the amount of advance you want to run and set the timing to 0 on the balancer.

for example ( I run my drag car timing 43 degrees advanced. I adjust the knob on the back of my timing light to 43 so that when I have the car running and the timing light pointed at the balancer/pointer, the timing pointer is at 0 when the timing light flashes.) This way you can see the mark on the balancer when the timing light flashes..

67chevelle

------------------
Current rides:
01 GMC 2500 SB HD CC 4x4 8.1 allison
67 Chevelle drag car
509 CI BBC,TH400
9.850 @ 134.55 mph
1970 C10 2WD PU being rebuilt
1967 El Camino 396, TH400 ( wife's drag car)
Jr. Dragster 5 hp B&S for the kids

http://community.webshots.com/user/mark67chevelle

*Fast68Chevy* · 03-28-2002, 12:11 AM

lol, that got complicated in a hurry, i say just connect a vacuum gauge to the engine and adjust everything until have 18-22 Hg and then make sure you have no ping under load(acceleration in gear, caused by too much advance, turn distrib clockwise to fix) and no hesitation with hot restarts(caused by too much retard in timing, turn distrib counter-clockwise to fix)

good luck

03-27-2002, 09:58 PM	#9
mooneyes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Slippery Rock PA USA Posts: 1,692	always remember #1 is the head sitting farthest foward on the block ------------------ 70 short step from vegas woo hoo !!!Ken Lyons Slippery Rock PA yahoo messenger:mooneyes4b "things always look different from higher up" Clint Eastwood (fist full of dollars) __________________ Ken Lyons, Slippery rock pa 68 short step 327 t10 4 gear 72 2wd blazer project 70 lwb 305/700r driver 78 caprice project 02 cavalier D.D ( hate it!!)

03-27-2002, 11:12 PM	#11
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	You will not see the timing mark if you haven't disconnected the vacuum.It will be advanced too much.Marking the groove on the balancer with white is the only way this old fart can see the mark anymore.I got a great timing light with a dial back feature that lets me see how much advance I have at any given engine speed.(God Bless Great Wives.) ------------------ Deland does Chevys 68Chevy panel(LIZ) "A man and his truck,it's a beautiful thing" "I have the body of a god,unfortunately it's Budda" __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

03-27-2002, 11:44 PM	#12
67chevelle drag racer Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Meridian Idaho Posts: 127	PanelDeland is right..If you buy a new timing light, get the type that has the dial on the back that allows you to adjust it to the amount of advance you want to run and set the timing to 0 on the balancer. for example ( I run my drag car timing 43 degrees advanced. I adjust the knob on the back of my timing light to 43 so that when I have the car running and the timing light pointed at the balancer/pointer, the timing pointer is at 0 when the timing light flashes.) This way you can see the mark on the balancer when the timing light flashes.. 67chevelle ------------------ Current rides: 01 GMC 2500 SB HD CC 4x4 8.1 allison 67 Chevelle drag car 509 CI BBC,TH400 9.850 @ 134.55 mph 1970 C10 2WD PU being rebuilt 1967 El Camino 396, TH400 ( wife's drag car) Jr. Dragster 5 hp B&S for the kids http://community.webshots.com/user/mark67chevelle __________________ Current rides: 01 GMC 2500 SB HD CC 4x4 8.1 allison 67 Chevelle drag car 516 CI BBC,TH400 9.777 @ 138.4 mph 1970 C10 2WD PU being rebuilt 1967 El Camino 502, TH400 ( wife's drag car) Jr. Dragster 5 hp B&S for the kids

03-27-2002, 08:31 PM	#1
dropped72shortbed Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 303	which is the # 1 cylinder? sorry for the silly question. i remember on my buick 350 the #1 cylinder was on the driver side closest to the radiator. my truck doesnt have any numbers on the manifold, plug wires or distributor. its a 72 with a 350. also do i have to disconnect the vacuum when i set the timing? __________________ Blake A. - Huntington Beach CA 72 c10 swb 5/5 drop, 350/350, partialy shaved, soon to be 5/7 on 20s.

03-27-2002, 08:34 PM	#2
REPO1 Shortbox wanna-be. Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fort St.John, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 773	#1 on a 350 is the drivers front. And yes you have to disconnect the vacuum line going to the distributor AND PLUG IT. Drivers--------Passenger #1.............#2 #3.............#4 #5.............#6 #7.............#8 ------------------ Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada 1970 Chevy C20 Custom Camper #s matching 402BB Turbo 400 trans. Air conditioning, power steering, manual brakes. 73,600 Original Miles!! [This message has been edited by REPO1 (edited March 27, 2002).] __________________ 1970 Chevy C20 Custom Camper 402BB Turbo 400 trans. (Slowly becoming a '70 shortbox 1/2 ton) '71 Camaro SS 402/T400 resto '97 Z28 (11.41@127MPH)

03-27-2002, 08:35 PM	#3
69 longhorn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: rock island,il,usa Posts: 5,382	Front ,drivers side....69 longhorn __________________ http://community.webshots.com/user/hotrodhorn

03-27-2002, 08:37 PM	#4
ebfabman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 2,489	the number one cylinder is on the driver side closest to the radiator

03-27-2002, 08:53 PM	#5
dropped72shortbed Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 303	ok when i hooked up the timing light to that cylinder and flashed the little points on the balance no mark showed up. i turned off the truck and found the groove in the balancer. so what gives? the marks completely not lined up with the little timing points. it seems to run pretty good so its not like it could be off that much. how do i go about finding out where the mark should be? __________________ Blake A. - Huntington Beach CA 72 c10 swb 5/5 drop, 350/350, partialy shaved, soon to be 5/7 on 20s.

03-27-2002, 09:00 PM	#6
dropped72shortbed Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 303	should i just set the 1 cyl to top dead center then make a mark on the balancer to point at 0 or top dead center __________________ Blake A. - Huntington Beach CA 72 c10 swb 5/5 drop, 350/350, partialy shaved, soon to be 5/7 on 20s.

03-27-2002, 09:24 PM	#7
72gmc1/2ton Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: englewood co usa Posts: 94	is your mark on the balancer white if not try using white-out on it and it will show up when you shine the light on it.

03-27-2002, 09:58 PM	#8
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	No do not remark it. Take the distributer loose and crank the engine and set it to about 6 degree's are 8 before top dead center. That should put you in the ball park. If you have a tach, you will want it to be around 6000, or 7000 with straight drive. If you have a automatic and air it should be around 8000, so when you turn the air on, it want die. You may have to reajust your idle speed to do this. Hope this helps. Andy ------------------ Andy 71's Are for ever!!! or 67,68,69,70,72 http://geocities.com/chevy71tpi/main.html __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

03-27-2002, 10:03 PM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Take a zero off of andy's numbers up there... don't wanna put a window in your block. ------------------ '69 G.M.C. 350/350. Trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man I've been dubbed the Longhorn Freak/Fanatic/Expert, I just hope I can live up to it. Need to pick up the one ton Longhorn with a PONTIAC 350/350soon. Thanks every one! Check out The Longhorn Webite. If you need a pic posted, E-mail me at longhornmail@yahoo.com Andy, in Columbus Ohio

03-28-2002, 12:11 AM	#13
Fast68Chevy Account Suspended Join Date: May 2000 Location: IL Posts: 0	lol, that got complicated in a hurry, i say just connect a vacuum gauge to the engine and adjust everything until have 18-22 Hg and then make sure you have no ping under load(acceleration in gear, caused by too much advance, turn distrib clockwise to fix) and no hesitation with hot restarts(caused by too much retard in timing, turn distrib counter-clockwise to fix) good luck



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.