I just got a 1955 chevy 3100 1/2 ton truck that has been sitting for quite a few years. I am trying to get the 235 engine fired up with little luck. The guy I got it from said it was running when he parked it. Everything looks good but the timing is off. The book tells me to look for a steel ball on the flywheel and time it through a hole on the flywheel cover. I think the flywheel has been replaced because there is no steel ball that I can find. I was wondering if anybody could give me advice as to possibly moving the timing marks to the harmonic balancer or if there is a way to time it off the flywheel without any marks. Thanks for your help and replys David
David, that steel ball is easy to miss as you're turning the flywheel. Pull out the number one plug (the one closest to the radiator), spin the engine by hand and feel for the rush of air out of the spark plug hole. Shine a light at the flywheel as you're turning the engine. When you feel the rush of air, the steel ball won't be far behind (unless you're 180 off, then keep spinning until the next rush of air). Spin the engine very slowly, if you don't, you'll miss the steel ball. It's about the size of a bb.
CHIEF...if that engine was runing before, it should run now. be very concerned my friend. in fact i would make damned sure it's runing before i baught it...POP.
Hey I appreciate the help. I noticed a couple of people talking about the hole on the bellhousing and the pointer being down by the starter. I have been trying to look through the hole on the bellhousing on the drivers side. This could be my problem. Is the hole and pointer on the p***enger side of the bellhousing
The timing hole is on the p***enger side (same side as the dizzy). Be careful screwing anything longer than a spark plug into your block, you could easily damage the piston. Another way to determine if #1 (closest to the radiator) is on the compression stroke and ready to fire is to pull the valve cover and turn the engine over by hand (clockwise as you look at the front of the engine). Put a little hand tension on the fan belt and you should be able to just turn the fan. Watch the 2 front valves as you turn the engine. When the #1 intake valve (the second valve back from the radiator) opens, then begins to close, watch in the window for the BB. Keep turning the engine slowly and when the BB lines up with the pointer stop. Pop the cap off the dizzy and make sure the rotor is pointing to the #1 spark plug tower. If it isn't you have 2 choices: 1. move the wires on the cap beginning with #1, then 5-3-6-2-4 going around in a clockwise direction. 2. re-stab the dizzy so that the rotor points to #1. With the pointer on the BB, and the rotor pointing to #1 tower, take an ohmeter (test light will work too) and connect it between the (-) terminal of the coil and ground. Loosen the dizzy body and rotate it a little until the ohmeter reads open (infinity), or the light lights (ignition has to be ON if using test light). Put everything back together, and fire that puppy up!!
I just thought of something to add that may help or may not. When you are spinning the engine by hand, try moving the belt to make sure you're not just spinning the fan with it slipping and not turning the belt/engine. I only mention this because I was having trouble finding the ball when timing my 235. I was spinning the fan to turn the motor, but it was slipping and not actually turning the belt and engine. Try to use a bright light and have it shine at the hole in the bell housing on the P***ENGER side of the engine while you are spinning it by hand. The ball will show up shortly after that rush of air, not right at the same time. But as I said before, look carefully, it doesn't take very much turning at all for it to disappear again.
Waldo53 ...that was an outstanding description of solving the problem. Some folks know what should be done but couldn't tell you how to pour piss out of a boot. It's good to see someone who knows how to p*** knowledge to others who may have limited experience. Kudos man!
Here's a picture of where the hole is located. You can only barely see the pointer in this picture. Paul
Just thought I'd throw this out there too.I had a 54 with a 235,thought it was out of time,because I couldn't get it to run right,and it ended up being the vac*** advance.Those actually turn the whole distributor to advance it,and the diaphram was tore on mine,not letting it run right.I was able to check it by running a hose to it and applied vac***,and it wouldn't turn.Might be somethin to check after you get it to fire off.
I know this probably isn't much help, but when did this guy supposedly park it? 'Ran when parked' is one the biggest car BS lines ever invented. And would be my first clue that the motor likely WON'T run. Only people that know the motor won't run usually say stuff like that. When was the last time you ever heard a seller admit it was parked because it ran like ****? Very few people are going to park a good running truck and never use it again. Big difference between 1971 and 2005 and what you might need to do to get the motor running. If it was parked not that long ago and supposedly running, that is reasonable. If it was parked in 1971 and supposedly running, I say consider it NOT running and will likely need quite a bit of attention on all kinds of things to get it running safely and properly. Good luck with it though. Hope you get it worked out. A lot of times it is just something very simple.
An engine sitting that long could possidlyhave stuck or leaking valves. A engine with valve or two that isnt working properly will act like its out of time. Pull the valve cover and check to see if they are working properly. When your piston is as far up as it can go and both valves have clearance(Valve Lash) that cylinder is at TDC. Leave the cover off until you get it running so you can be shure the rockers are oiling. OLdWolf
Hole and pointer is right above the starter. It's hard to miss. The ball is actually a detent or hole. (It's easily missed.) Using a prybar carefully turn it over by handline up the ball with the detent and follow the procedure in the owners manual. I checked the valves with the cover off on mine when I timed it. Good Luck, Seth
Hey I thought I would reply back to say I really appreciate the excellent information from you all, it was really a step in the right direction for a novice. This is the first time I have actually worked on something this old a lot of things are arranged different than even on my 1960 pontiac starchief. I was able to get the timing set but still was having a problem with starting. By the way the timing was off because I changed the va***n advance and had to pull the dizzy to do it. After some ohm work with another gear head we found a wire not hooked to the ignition switch. We hooked that up and turned it over and it fired up the first time and sounds nice and smooth running with no smoke. By the way the guy I got it from said it was sitting for fourteen years. Thanks a lot for your expertise and knowledge I am hooked on the hamb.
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