No Timing marks?

[OxonCounty77]

Following on from my thread 'flat spot from cold start' :

Tried to check the ign timing following various suggestions that it should be 10 deg or similar. Have found & highlighted the mark on the damper pulley.There appears to be no mark to line it up with. I expected to see a toothed plate on the timing cover,but cant even see where one might have been/broken off etc.Nothing either looking up from underneath.The timing light seems to indicate timing is set towards the passenger side of the cover.(More or less where it is in the picture when the engine was stopped). There is a vertical ridge stamped into the cover pressing towards the driver's side,but that doesnt look right either. Any thoughts welcome.

(PS/ Santa just came to our local garden centre in Bicester Oxfordshire (England) The kiddies will get their presents super-quick this year...)

[J Knight]

You can buy a bolt on timing tab.

[86c20]

i was told that if you look straigt down from behind the water pump it should be straight up. how true that is idont know. my c20 is like that i just put a vac gauge on it

[geezer#99]

You have the wrong timing cover.
You have some choices to fix it though.
1. Put a timing cover on that has the timing tube on it.
2. Buy a bolt on tab and remark your balancer.
3. Leave it alone.

[OxonCounty77]

Quality.
Have just found a supplier in the uk that's selling the timing tabs on ebay.
Just done 'buy it now' & one is on its way!
Will still play with the vac gauge I have just got though-you folks seem to feel it is the most useful tool in the box. No one seems to use them over here..Watched some of the you-tube vids last night & they seem such a versatile bit of kit for simply highlighting so many different faults.I will obviously joining the ranks of the converted-if you dont use one,this will help clarify the mystic art.It opened my eyes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...USI-JYhVU&NR=1

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction..

[geezer#99]

Better find and buy a piston stop too!
Or make one.

[willett]

how many square bodies are rolling around in the U.K?
is your truck RHD??

[OxonCounty77]

There are a few squares over here. There were quite a few left by the military when there were several US air bases here. Most of these seem to have disappeared now.There are a few K5 Blazers (with the back roof taken off to make a truck),but most other older imports have been jacked up to make monster trucks or lowered & painted lairy colours .
There seems to be very few standard unmolested examples-hence why I imported my 77 from the US recently. The big thing that has taken off here is 50s pickups. They are everywhere & in all the Custom & American Classic car magazines. Either restored to mint condition or 'farm fresh' with patina'd bodies. Typically these are for sale at $16000-25000.
'Our' vintage & bodystyle has yet to be appreciated yet over here-but hopefully thats just a matter of time....