Is the timing marks obvious on Y block dampners? Different locatons on different Y Blocks? I have a collection of dampners and dont see any on any of them.

 

I had to sand my damper with sandpaper to get down through the surface rust and old paint to find the timing marks. Still hard to see them with a timing light so I marked the damper with white chalk.

 

Thanks Chet, how do they identify the mark? A series of numbers or just a line? I know some are on the pulley and some are on the vibration dampner, but not sure what to look for.

 

A set of lines. Take a look at pics in my Alternator thread I posted a few weeks ago.

 

They tend to be pretty faint. Should be a long line marked 0* TDC and the other marks shorter, indicating degrees BTDC, etc.

In case anybody doesn't know, the originals because of their age have problems by now because the rubber bonding deteriorates and the outer ring will slip off its index, so the marks are pretty much useless anyway when you do find them, and won't do much for vibration damping either.

This bond can also fail altogether and do real nasty stuff - like launch through the radiator at highway speed . Not good.

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Thanks Ted, I found them. I was given a tip on another forum where to find them. If you draw a straight line thru the center of the dampner and line it up square with the key slot, then go about 108 degrees to the right, that will get you close. I hear what your saying on old dampners. Is there a place in the US to have them rebuilt? The stock dampner I removed has slipped. I marked it before removal and it is just a bit left of the line instead of 108 degrees to the right. The donar is old and used to, but the rubber is showing some wear and tear.

 

Not all dampners are marked the same. Some are on the pulley, some are on the balancer. Some are just a "v" groove, or a high spot. These dampeners are old and the rubber is most likely deteriorating. I believe the good news is if they come loose, they dont go thru the radiator and down the highway at rocket launch speed. They go towards the timing chain cover but stay on. At least thats what I have been told.

 

There used to be the damper doctor, not sure if they are still around?

The cost, plus shipping both ways is still probably cheaper than buying new, though? Didn't want my truck to be down that long so bit the bullet and bought a new manufacture damper off of eBay, I think it's through Mummert's or at least the same folks who supplies them. Quality part. The old one on mine was trashed, slipped, and had a wobble. Scary! Engine is happier now for sure, too.

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Probably one of those in my future, but will wait until I make a decision on power steering.

 

Yeah, looks like http://www.damperdoctor.com is alive and well so that's an option. They sell new ones or, will reman your unit and send it back to ya.

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Interesting, here is my timing mark for my 239.
I was wondering how I was going to set the timing. are there stickers you can get or something? Maybe I'm missing some marks somewhere.

 

Thats most definitely one of the ways for displaying TM on a Y Block, but I have no idea It thats TDC or what. Someone will be along that will have a good answer.,

 

There are two general styles I'm aware of.

One uses a pointer with the damper having the timing markings.
The other uses a pointer with the timing markings and only one mark on the damper.

I believe that yellow one needs the other pointer.

 

A vacuum gauge works slick for setting timing, also for setting idle mixture, so you can just hang the timing light on the wall for decoration. Maybe the performance guys need them, folks who study advance curves and swap out distributor springs, I dunno.

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You're correct. My engine likes ~16° INITIAL ADVANCE, set with vacuum gauge but rechecked with light. But that will put my TOTAL ADVANCE way to high. That's where a light comes in, along with checking operation of vacuum and mechanical advance. No way to do that with just a Vacuum Gauge.