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I can confirm what others are showing, my 351W has the bolt-on pointer with timing marks engraved in the balancer. I had to really scrub the balancer to reveal the marks. If the OP's 351W is missing the pointer (perhaps misplaced during the rebuild?) I would think based on the pictures shown here he could locate the bolt hole for the pointer and go from there. The other option, as I have learned here, is to determine TDC by removing the #1 spark plug and place a straw down the spark plug hole then rotate the engine by hand until at TDC then scribe corresponding marks on the engine and balancer and time it off those marks.
I can confirm what others are showing, my 351W has the bolt-on pointer with timing marks engraved in the balancer. I had to really scrub the balancer to reveal the marks. If the OP's 351W is missing the pointer (perhaps misplaced during the rebuild?) I would think based on the pictures shown here he could locate the bolt hole for the pointer and go from there. The other option, as I have learned here, is to determine TDC by removing the #1 spark plug and place a straw down the spark plug hole then rotate the engine by hand until at TDC then scribe corresponding marks on the engine and balancer and time it off those marks.
I've been wondering what that weird shaped bit of metal went to thanks
Here's a screenshot from a video (not mine) showing the pointer installed on a 302. It looks like what I have on my '84 351W:
Here's the whole video, which offers a nice view of the pointer because none of the front accessories are installed. Once the water pump, alternator, air pump, etc., are installed, visibility is reduced:
The video shows how to check the accuracy of the timing marks, but there's no need to get that involved (removing cylinder head) for an engine in service.
Notice some pointers are on the left side, some on the right side. So the damper has to match the pointer location. You can get into trouble sometimes mixing and matching parts from different engines.
The proper way to double check it, besides pulling the head like the picture above, is to make a piston stop. You take a old sparkplug and knock the center out of it. Then put a bolt and nut through the center so it hangs out the end of the plug, then screw the sprakplug down in cylinder #1. Then gently turn the engine till the piston hits the homemade stop. Make a temp mark on the damper where the point is pointing. Then gently turn the engine the other direction, till it comes around and hit's the stop again. Make another temp mark. Now you can take the stop out.
You will now have two temp marks on the damper. Exactly inbetween these marks is TDC #1. Make a mark exactly in the middle.
The straw method will get you in the ballpark. but the piston is at the top of the cylinder for a long part of the crankshaft rotation. So it's hard to know exactly where TDC is using that method.
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you might want to take more “before” pictures next time.
