Top Dead Center Illustrated | How To Find TDC on a Small Block Ford

[@rolando4812]

Six years ago a long winded video was long winded. Now we have 50 minute videos. Either way. Great video compressed with so much knowledge. Thank you!

[@TheTrimSmith]

Exactly the information I needed. 8 minutes was not long enough. Thanks.

[@jesusguzman9809]

Great Video!!!!! I really learned the proper way. Don't let people give you shit about talking. you are doing it the Right and Proper way to pass on this information. because of you I am learning the correct way. Thank you again.

[@jstrano1978]

Great video! I’m a Chevy guy working on my Dad’s 1967 Mustang so I’m learning a new language.

[@norcal8718]

Awesome video great job. And you are right you cannot be in a rush when it comes to timing. Thanks 👍🏻

[@dntlss]

Those rockers are gorgeous.

[@kg6itc]

I would want clear valve covers lol

[@youngestson65]

Very professional and detailed description of how to find tdc. 👍

[@ericmadx3063]

Yes my rocker panels are working better 😂

[@dannilaser16]

What is the part number on the TDC Indicator from Amazon? I was unable to see it because you moved too fast. Thank you for sharing. Very informative video.

[@charleshoward9983]

Bro any thing motor excites me and time has no frame. By the way the motor is great looking . I just came in so I will be a new sub. Great video!

[@Motorman-dl1sc]

Thanks for the video. This has got to be the best video i seen on how to find top dead center.

[@DJPrievo]

Hey man...just wanted to say this video was a huge help for me...made me feel like i could do it afterwards...lol as soon as the rain clears we will find out if thats true! Thank you.

[@twistoffate3362]

1... you are not using the piston stop correctly to find EXACTLY where TDC is. 2... you only need to know TDC on compression stroke when dropping in a distributor. Viewers, to find true top dead center with piston stop : install piston stop and rotate crank by hand clockwise until piston is stopped by"piston stop", using the "0" mark on timing tab as a reference point mark the balancer. Now turn the crank the opposite direction until piston stops again. Using same ''0'' ref. point mark the balancer again. TRUE TDC is exactly between the two marks you make on balancer. DO NOT start engine with the piston stop installed or kiss that piston goodbye. Your best bet is to disconnect battery for this procedure.

[@aaronfowler5477]

Do you think you’ll be able to do the follow up video with the piston stop? This video was awesome and is the most detailed and definitely understandable way of finding tdc. Thank you

[@WesternReloader]

Aaron Fowler he explained it at the 8:45 mark. Use a spark plug piston stop. Use a coat hanger, Look at your #1 cylinders rocker arms, look at your cam sprocket and main sprocket, look for the holes spinning towards each other ,if no movement on either valve as you’re coming up, compression stroke, you can back spin crank a bit counter clockwise, screw in piston stop, slowly and carefully rotate crank clockwise until piston stops, mark balancer at timing mark, then rotate counter clockwise all the way until piston stops again, mark balancer again, then split two marks in half, viola.

[@oldhawkins]

You never showed us how to use the piston stop to figure out where TDC is on the balancer.

[@DarylWade]

Howdy Archifxllc! Great videos! I have an 89 F 250 5.0 302 EFI HO which has been giving me a really hard time with it's gas mileage. It used to get 21 MPG when I was in Vegas. Then as work goes a better job was in Oklahoma. On the way there the mileage went to 11, and one year later when I came to the Bakken in ND it was down to 3-8. I've replaced every sensor, module and fittings and whatever else I can think of or find and still no more than 3-8 at best on the mileage. Your video about TDC was interesting and I'm about to head to the post office today to pick up both of those TDC tools you showed. I did the TDC by the 0-TDC and a screw driver already yet nothing. Today I'll try these tools and from there we will see. I'm still waiting for your video on the harmonic balancer you spoke of in the TDC video! You do a great job on your explanations and demonstrations! You should have your own program on TV. I know a few producers and will be talking with them about you. The first thing is to figure out this mileage problem. Oh by the way, this engine was built by a shop in Vegas with over 50 years of success and great knowledgeable and well respected mechanics. The engine today has only 38 miles on the rebuild. I've asked them there thoughts and everything they've shared to try has made no difference. BAFFLING! It's now a project to find the problem and will not give up until I figure it out! Be Safe Man! Daryl

[@frankdavidson9675]

you may have oxygen sensor tbl if its old replace it it can effect milage

[@DarylWade]

@@frankdavidson9675 Hola Oh Great and Noble One! It's been a while! Hope the family is well and safe! This engine problem at that time was just as you said! Changed the sensor and WOW! Mileage shot back up up to 19-mpg. When I left the Dakotas I had almost 8K in weight and still averaged 19 while driving to Washington State to visit. A couple years went by on the visit and rebuilt it completely. After a $3500.00 rebuild I did on my own, it fired right up and sounded great! Next morning went to take for its maiden voyage and something let loose. Backed it over by a tree and parked it. Bought an airline ticket and went back to my ranch in Nevada for a while. Last March I flew back to the place here in WA, and pulled it. I was so pissed at wasting $3500.00, I took the engine to a friends engine shop and said you do it! Turned out the bolts that came in the box with the new highflow oil pump didn't hold the torque and back out. Oh Well, $2,000.00 later, it's a new engine now with a guarantee! I'll pick it up hopefully next week and let you know how she runs! Be Well My Friend!

[@andrewgarnsey331]

I am a thumb guy. This video is exellent for someone who needs help.

[@edphinster]

Nice job...I actually use a vacuum/pressure gauge set-up...I am going to verify it using your method.

[@rowenatebaldi3213]

long and correct is always the best way.. Eight minute video is short.

[@AnthonyDellaquila-u5q]

Thanks my friend, great video

[@NashvilleEarlyBronco]

Thanks man! Super helpful! Just what I was looking for. My distributor cap was pointing right at me when I did what you said.

[@lemingsoup]

Thanks for the video. I am ordering one of those tools as before I just stuck a screwdriver down the spark plug hole to guess at TDC.

[@shawnhammond3674]

l

[@50lxnando]

Hmm u got me seconded guessing.because I get back fire popping in the intake manifold once in a while.I set up timing by pointing rotor at number 1. At 12 degrees or more

[@zacharyford152]

Thanks for the follow up video...

[@SavageSPK]

This helped me a ton today.. THANX for posting!

[@josephmonaco4503]

I'm a chevy man, but that was a very good video. I have a couple of questions for you though. 1- Did you advance your motor 4 degrees when you put the timing chain in? 2- I noticed that you rotor was past the No# 1 cylinder by 3/4 of an inch while your TDC Advance tool was showing TDC. Maybe you are advanced too much at your distributor also. I wish you would have shown the video with the shorter TDC Tool instead. I'm going to end my reply now and start a new one telling you how I get TDC on my 427 BBC.

[@joelongo3446]

U never showed us how to use this piston stop & mark the balencer . Make an video on that

[@rolando4812]

Trying to find the follow up video that you mention in the video, the one where you use the piston stop. great info, anxious to go home and try this

[@armyavnguy]

Any luck finding… I know this is an old Post.

[@quinteroeddie90]

Still waiting on the tdc piston stopper tool

[@jdtv...9134]

I've never used any of that crap! I use a camera in the #1 plug hole with the cap off. I've never had a problem yet!

[@jackinthebox6143]

Me too! I just stick my little pinkie in the hole and feel the piston touch when it's at the top.

[@Archifx]

My little pinky is too thick to get in that hole

[@jackinthebox6143]

@@Archifx Said the vicar to the showgirl!

[@allmotorhash]

old school guys say use dip stick on no 1 spark plug hole no 1 timing on dist pointing about nort east but that tool is cool

[@tgjr79]

THANKS A MILLION!

[@josephmonaco4503]

First off, I have a timing tape on my Harmonic Balancer. 2- I take all of the plugs out so the motor turns over with ease. 3- then I put my finger in the #-1 plug hole. 4- then I rotate the engine around clockwise and watch the Balancer and wait until I hear and feel the hiss and pressure. BUT, I don't stop there, I rotate the motor until the line on the balancer and the mount on the block that you use with a timing light both line up perfectly,,,,,Then and then only should you be at true TDC. When I do this to set my Lifters in my Roller Cam, I " ALSO HAVE THE COIL DISCONNECTED,FIRST...SORRY" Then I pull my dist cap off and make sure that my rotor is pointed exactly at # 1 plug wire and the I Paint a BLACK LINE one the dist cap and the bottom METAL of the dist, so when I do this to set my lifters, I check and line up the BLACK LINES every time right after all of the things that I mentioned before. Then, and then only is it safe to adjust my lifters in the proper firing order. My balancer has 4 indentantion lines scribbed into it, So after I adjust #-1 cylinder, I rotate the balancer clockwise 90 degrees and stop when the 2 lines are aligned up again, THEN I Know that I'm on the compression stroke and set my Intake valve ONLY. Then rotate the balancer another 90 degrees and do the same thing over and over until all 8 INTAKE valves are set perfectly. THEN I go back to cylinder 1 again and do the same thing only this time I set the exhaust valve/lifter, and follow the same pattern until all 8 cylinders are adjusted, Then , I'm not only done, but I know my lifters are set perfectly every time. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HARMONIC BALANCER TAPE ON YOU BALANCER, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE GUESSING pAL. i HOPE THIS HELPED. THEN, AND THEN ONLY WILL YOU GET THE FULL POTENTIAL OUT OF YOUR MOTOR. TTY ANOTHER TIME. iF YOU WANT, EMAIL ME AND WE CAN TALK ON THE PHONE. It would be a pleasure helping another " GEAR HEAD ""

[@brianducharme3418]

Thank you very much!

[@joeylambert7395]

Man ur engine looks amazing.. makes me a little jealous because now everyone I pop my.hood I'm gonna think of urs.And it's gonna ruin my whole day, thanks.... Lol jk thanks for the video, much appreciated

[@WoodyLambChop]

Chrome replacements

[@hughmc5419]

Why not use a compression gauge .Good video

[@joshuahendrix8699]

Fantastic video thank you!

[@yoelb13]

Well, this was a great video; however, if you already have the harmonic balancer installed, all you have to do is rotate the engine so that the pointer points to 0 TDC, and with a screwdriver, make sure that the piston is all the way up-->once these two conditions are met, then you are at TDC and you could do multiple things, including stabbing a distributor (with rotor pointing to #1 cylinder on the cap), etc....

[@Archifx]

Very true but what if you're running an aftermarket balancer like myself and you don't have timing marks? Need to establish a baseline. Perhaps running with timing tape etc. or, what if the marks are a universal type and you need to verify?

[@yoelb13]

archifxllc Didn't think of that detail. You know your engine well. Keep up the great vids man!

[@greyblue12567]

@@Archifx where's the follow up video

[@jerrycordova1971]

Couldnt these conditions being met also be 180 degrees off?

[@gustavoesqueda9964]

Did you remove all spark plugs for this method ?

[@kg6itc]

What/where is that brass tool? I want one.

[@norcal8718]

I'm about to put a distributor in a new Ford 302 crate engine in a 69 mustang for the first time, standard procedures like always I would assume huh.

[@jdb-lu3bp]

Great vid but where's the follow up video second vid with the piston stopper.

[@dalejohnson3523]

I want to upgrade my 1985 F150 302 with a better distributor and coil. Which distributor and coil are you using? Thanks Dale

[@davidlee2068]

There are many TDC indicators on Amazon. Can you give the company/part number?

[@clist9406]

Years ago learn a trick from an ol timer , whistle that threaded into the spark plug . Whistles on compression stroke

[@darrenreed5107]

Called a whistle stop

[@357bkg]

If using the stop. Y removed valve covers if u kno about where the dizzy is supposed to point?

[@45ESCUADRA]

Where did you get ur pulleys from? Love the polished pulleys..i have 90 Bronco with 351w

[@Archifx]

CVF racing. www.cvfracing.com

[@gustavomelendez5514]

Thanks sr

[@MrPrelude98]

love this bro! thanks a bunch, what's the item number on the tool there been looking for that. if you adjusted the arms on what you thought was the actual timing but didn't run it would it bent a valve? It just cranked but never starts.

[@MrPrelude98]

and what is the firing order to adjust for a 302ho block? I see all these diagrams and it looks like they mixed them up online. thank you

[@pd2865]

after you did all this, did you set your timing by degrees or by maximuin ported vacuum?

[@Archifx]

Yes

[@hugoluz3846]

If the crankshaft and camshaft timing marks are aligned with what they should be aligned with (i.e., the other marks), that means necessarilly that it is in the TDC point?

[@chuckeaves6623]

That's what I was think'n

[@dadams19111]

Very GOOD!!!

[@johngranato2673]

Best way is to pull valve cover and look at number 1 valves--believe me

[@freightshaker116]

very informative

[@earlboyll4608]

where do i find the next video for the piston stop?

[@doxipotimus1380]

Can you share links on all the tools featured here?

[@9mustangmartinez]

What if you move the spark plug wires clockwise to align with rotor cap and tdc?? Would that be incorrect??

[@12x2richter]

+9mustangmartinez For carbureted or batch fire injector cars yes - for later Mustangs, Explorers, etc, there's a sensor inside that tells which injectors to fire at what time, so it won't work for those.

[@frankdavidson9675]

TDC is stamped at the factory at the right place along with deg marks never had a problem why is so many people having tbl with TDC if cam and crankshaft are lined up when putting chain on you will not have tbl. valves have nothing to do with timming that is set by dist being installed at correct pos. my dist will only go in one way because of an off set tang on bottom of dist shaft other dist do not have this feather so it go in 180 deg off --- not good you need to raise dist up inch or so to turn rotor 180 deg reinsert dist. use timing light toset on deg mark slowly rotate dist base to adj. tighten dist its timed

[@dntlss]

His harmonic balancer has no marks,thats why hes doing all this ,i have timed many cars before,you do have to be careful and follow procedure but your balancer will tell you whats going on and you can always take the valve cover off,when both rockers are closed and you look at the balancer you will be able to deduce whats going on,where your at and if your 180 out, simple.

[@brianheiden6623]

Nice motor dam.

[@jackogez329]

so if I was 180 off it would run like shit , it runs pretty good , but it keeps getting hot , only gets ht when I'm stopped , I've flushed , and flushed , and this will be the last time I flush this geo , getting old dealing with the hot problem , new water pump, new thermostat, radiator is maybe a year old ,

[@richardraymond5535]

Jack Ogez I realize I’m a little late but you ever figure it out? What about your fan clutch???

[@joshedmonds3110]

Sooooo how do you fix it?

[@free7614]

Where did you get the first tdc tool?

[@thedobermangang3503]

engine look good

[@luidavid448]

What tdc stop tool are u using what is it?

[@ronladd6289]

Next time to avoid the mistake that you made double check the distributor pointing at number one spark plug wire on compressions stroke on timing Mark

[@ronladd6289]

you are full of it numbnuts..lol

[@cth0211]

what about the location of the cap mouting screws. what position should they be ? like the factory dist picture? I did the TDC just like you did on a 351w with a accel distributor. can't get it to start. spits back thru carb. thinking the guy has the wires on the cap wrong. the mag pickup has to be in a certain postition?

[@josephmoneymobley]

Same he never responded to your question. I'm sure by now you have figured it out . Did you find a rotor cap plug wire diagram and was that the issue with it not firing up an back firing ??????

[@bala6076]

Yo tengo un 4 de 1989 4 150 y quiero comprar todas las partes con un 2 la tiene la troca perrona necesito saber cómo conseguir las piezas como las tienes tu en español video es más fácil para mí entenderlo y como conseguir piezas

[@V8March]

Where i can find this tdc tool?

[@Archifx]

Got mine on Summit Racing

[@xjokerx_1529]

you don't need to do all that shit to adjust the timing is very easy in old model engines

[@Eli-lx2fq]

Stick your pinky finger in side the cylinder to feel the piston at tdc 😂

[@tinavernon6493]

freez plug

[@frankdavidson9675]

ford quality took a nose dive about 30 yrs ago

[@dntlss]

We're discussing timing a 302 engine, One of the best engines ever made along with the 350 Chevy, everything has taken a nosedive in the last decades, you know what people were discussing in 1917? the price of milk,The model T and how expensive it was and how Woodrow Wilson needed to be thrown out of the White house, some things never change.

[@Eli-lx2fq]

Use an inspection camera.😂

[@frankdavidson9675]

i am 88 yrs old i ha drove ford trk sence i was about 20yr the last ford i bought new had problems wit quality control at factory swore off fords traded for new 09 dodge ram 1500 best vech i ever owned my point is i never had dist. tble ever with none of my fords 302 s tbls I had was shimy and body factory mess ups (no more fords

[@dntlss]

302 is probably one of the best engines ever made,true and tested,we're discussing the timing of a engine, not Ford and Chevy and Dodge, that's the oldest chestnut ever, its very hard to read what you typed and i'm 57 years old so no spring chicken either.

[@bala6076]

No hablas español

[@Ronjovi77]

or just look at your timming mark

[@quinteroeddie90]

Please

[@Archifx]

What was your question?

[@quinteroeddie90]

@@Archifx sorry lol at the end of the video you said you were going to show us the next step using the piston stopper tool to set TDC looked for the video but never found it. Sorry your videos are awsome

[@tokexecution6865]

Lol didn't make it through 2 minute ...bla bla bla ....bla bla bla

[@k129h8]

is that TDC tool the 10.5"? I orderded the 10.5 but im hoping its not too long.