Hello All, I have a question about the timing marks on a 1979 460 harmonic (externally ballanced). I have chalked the entire harmonic balancer looking for any sign of timing marks? There is not a one...... There is a pointer on the passenger side. But no visible marks??

 

Take a less aggressive wire wheel on a portable grinder to it. Steel wool, or sand paper will work also, but just takes longer. It's easy to get at from the bottom side. They can get covered up and pitted up by rust, but they should be there.

When you get it cleaned up, take a white fine or medium tipped marker and mark the 10 degree BTC mark. This is where your base timing should be on a stock motor.

 

Thanks cbakker, I found them!! It took me almost 2 hours with steal wool and then a wire wheel. It makes me wonder how long it had been for the old girl to be timed? Between the oil then the heavy rust I thought it was an unmarked harmonic balancer. Have never seen one so lightly marked.
Got it shiny clean. Then borrowed some white acrylic paint and painted it and wiped the excess. I am at 10 degrees BTDC.
She runs about 15 degrees hotter when pushed, but the drivablty and fuel milage is like night and day!! Thanks so much for your post!! If I can bother you with one more question? If she heats up then it would be right to retard the timing slightly to keep that from happening?

 

If you are at 10 degrees BTC you should not be heating up. Retarding it further will kill your power and mileage both.

I would check your cooling system. The thermostat is the cheapest, easiest to check and easiest to replace if defective.

 

Hi cbakker, I will check the cooling system this evening. I don't hear any pre ignition but I don't hear much of any with the exhaust as loud as it is. The old truck used to have a 6.9 diesel and has a huge radiator. So 15 degrees won't make to much difference. It's not over heating just rises a little higher than it did before it was timed.
Thanks again for your insight and knowledge.

 

It's timing that is retarded that tends to overheating as a general rule iirc.

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Hi Tedster9, Thanks I will fiddle with it this evening. Thanks for your help.