Hi, brand new to the site, however I'm hoping that someone on here is an Olds expert and can sort out an issue that I have. I just bought a 39 Ford with a 394 Olds in it and am trying to work out how to check the timing. See photo - all I can find is a timing pointer and three slots on the crank pulley, but have no idea what those slots mean. Hoping someone will know the answer. It may even be a dumb question, but in the UK we have very few (I haven't found one as yet) Olds experts, several owners, but no real knowledge as such. Some ref's - Engine no. G16113, Bell Housing casting no. 577476 CFD62 with 2 slightly below that area. Inlet 580677.
Lowest of the 3 is 0*, then 5*, then 10*. I might have that backwards, since the marks are on the balancer. My head hurts sorting it out.
Hey guys, many thanks for clarifying that. I was assuming it was something like that but really had no idea. Center of the Galaxie - so any idea on what my engine may actually be from originally?
Maybe get this: https://carmanualsdirect.com/products/oldsmobile-394-cid-v8-skyrocket-engine-rebuild-manual This may be useful, a whole Olds engine thread: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...o-end-all-other-posts-lasalle-related.149650/
Brilliant, thanks. Off topic my big sis lived in Brisbane for many years, she'd now down on the Gold Coast (immigrated back in the 70's).
I had to buy the timing tape package, as my 350 has a larger balancer, (set timing by ear, LOL; "Hey, that mark's 3/8" different than before..." I was forced to make the snide remark. It was...there. LOL
1960, 1961 and 1962 had the 3 marks on the balancer. The earlier 394 only had 2 marks on the balancer. '63 and '64 had the marks on the timing cover. With the little information I have, it would have to be '60,'61 or '62 full size Olds. Hope this helps.
If the engine as been modified in any way, This is the way to go. Any time an engine is modified, there is a good chance that the timing requirements have changed as well. One more important thing : This assumes that the advance system in the distributor is working perfectly. In older engines, this is seldom the case. Ideally, one should have a "dial-back" timing light and chart the actual advance curve in the engine from idle to maximmum RPM. Once you have done that, you should still spend some "track time" to make sure the curve is optimum. Or, you could have the distributor set up and charted on a distributor machine. You would still have to determine if the existing curve is optimum for the engine.
This also works if the balancer is incorrect or has damage.SBC have 4 different balancers and timing pointers.
Many thanks for all the advice and replies. Time difference meant I have only just seen some of these, so don't think I was ignoring you LOL. A lot of really good info in the replies, which I'll work through. Man I LOVE this site.
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