I am have a hard time time my baby. I know that the timing mark on the balancer is right, but I am unable to find tdc. SO I found a web page that shows you how to make a tool. Here is what they say to do: (the hard part) remove the electryode from a spark plug and then attach a clear tube to it. find compression stroke the reinstall the now mod plug. PLace the other end in a clear bottle that is filled with a light colored oil. rotate the motor and watch for bubble in the oil, once they stop and you know should a little vacuum. then line the timing mark back to the tdc mark on the balancer and needle. I am about to try it. Any other suggestion. i know that people use a dowel. Jut need help

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225+0.080 at 10:1
268cam
holley 390
clifford headers
8 3/4 355's lsd
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sounds as good as any other type of homemade TDC tool... @ least no worries of something wierd happening, ie: breaking off said dowel, or what ever else may go wrong.. Murphy would have a hard time screwing that up...

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MRO....

Cheap, Fast, Reliable.... Pick 2...

You said you know the timing mark on your balancer is right, so why cant you use that to find TDC. A better and more accurate method is to make a positive stop from an old spark plug. You can use a long 3/8" allen head cap screw inside of the spark plug body to adjust how far inside the chamber the end sticks in. Looking into the spark plug hole with the good spark plug removed, rotate the engine until you see the piston coming near the top of the cylinder. Then install the modified spark plug tool and adjust until it just touches the piston. Make a mark on the balancer at this point corresponding to the 0° mark on your timing tab and rotate the crankshaft in the opposite direction until the piston just lightly touches the stop again. Mark the balancer again corresponding with the 0° on your tab again, halfway between these 2 marks is your TDC. Now see if that matches your TDC mark on your balancer.

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There's no such thing as too much cam....only not enough engine!