428 cj timing problems
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Joined: Sep 2007
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428 cj timing problems
I have a 428 cj and cant get it in time!! I took it to 3 different mechanics and they cant get it in time because they all said the same thing, the harmonic balancer has slipped so there's nothing we can do. need help!!!!!! The motor dose not have the origional distributor it has a mallory. thanks.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,312
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From: Eldorado Ca. USA
You can either set it by ear, and fool with it till it runs right, or take your balancer off and get it re manufactured, or buy a re manufactured unit. They run about $60.(I dunno about one for a 428, might be more??)
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
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Timing Issues
You might start by verifying if the TDC mark has actually moved. By pulling the number one plug and cranking the engine over by hand while putting a thumb over the plug hole, you can tell when the engine is on the compression stroke. Once you feel air being pushed out, stop turning and find something to touch the top of the piston so you can see exactly when you are at TDC. Move the engine slowly back and forth a few degrees to find the exact top of the stroke, then check if the timing pointer is correct. If not, make a temporary mark with whiteout or a paint marker. Has this distributer been run on this engine before? If not, verify it has the correct number of teeth on the distributer gear. I once saw a Ford engine that would only run a few seconds at a time then die, crank over several times, run, the die again. The wrong distributer gear had been installed, one with one less tooth than correct. You could set the timing all day long, but every time you checked it after cranking it would be off.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2007
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If nothing else, get it up to TDC, set the distributor in, and have it pointing at the no. 1 cylinder, then wire it and see if it will run. It then should be close to dead on or 180 out. Also make sure of which way the rotor rotates, its clockwise on FE's. Learned that on my 460.
BTW the firing order is 15426378
BTW the firing order is 15426378
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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428s are great in 4x4s especially for hill climbs and mud holes with the ability to rev like a small block.
they are getting rare so don't screw around with a bad balancer and blow it up
get a new one
they are getting rare so don't screw around with a bad balancer and blow it up
get a new one
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,793
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From: Piney Woods of East Texas
The harmonic balancer is keyed on the crank. Should be pointing up at TDC, then see if the deg marks on the harmonic balancer is point to. I would also be of help to watch the valves to make sure they are in the correct position. If it has actually slipped, I would opt for a new.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,312
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From: Eldorado Ca. USA
Quit fooling around, replace the balancer already. Do what oldjag and blue68 said and verify the location of TDC. If it is off when you carefully bring the motor up to TDC and where #1 is pointing on the distributor, definatly park the truck and replace the balancer. A junkyard unit is not good enough, get re-manufactured. I used to judge balancers by how good the rubber isolator looked. I had one that the rubber had no splits in it at all, and ones that had split rubber. I used the one that looked great. The motor made it about 3000 miles, I wanted to fool with the timing, and could not get it to set to save my life. I made a mark with white paint on the ring to the center piece. I reved the motor a few times, the thing was spinning!!
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