Need oil pan timing pointer for 454

[purpledragster]

I am needing to locate a timing pointer that goes on the oil pan of my 454 so it can be set with a timing light . on a motor home you can't see the factory mark and someone @ sometime removed the one on this engine. I know someone has a engine they are using for some other project and will throw it away I have looked high and low for one NEED HELP!!!!!!   Thanks Richard

[Elandan2]

On my 440, I just painted marks on the pan and balancer.  It is quite a job getting the timing set otherwise.  So I just rotated the engine with a wrench and when the mark was at the right point, I painted the lines on the bottom.  Now, checking the timing is simple.  Rick

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

Before you give up, try reading this thread to see if the answer is there.

Besides, it's not like these things are expensive:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2053587.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xchevy+454+timing+tab&_nkw=chevy+454+timing+tab&_sacat=0&_from=R40

https://www.google.com/#q=454+timing+tabs


Finding TDC
There should be a timing tab on the front of the engine


Here is a car version of a front timing cover with the timing tab at upper right in the picture (drivers side on engine).  This variation is for the #1 or #6 cylinder for timing.


Some motor home 454 engines had the timing tab at the #4/#7 position and others, like whem2fish indicated, had the timing tab at the #5/#8 position.  When the engine is running and you are setting the timing to it's final value, it does not matter which of the 2 cylinders you use as long as it's the proper pair for the location of the timing tab.

Note: If you left the timing cover on the Suburban engine, then you have to use the harmonic balancer from the Suburban engine so that marks will line up.

The mark on the harmonic balancer (macheined line that cuts across balancer edge) should line up to the "0" degree mark (TDC) on the timing tab.  Trick is in knowing which one of the associated pair is supossed to be at TDC.  If the pair combination was 1/6 (top right timing tab location), then, for simplicity, you want the #1 cylinder at TDC on compression stroke.  That means both valves on the #1 cylinder will be closed.  The #6 cylinder will be at the end of the exhaust stroke straring the downward Intake stroke (valves partialy open).   Once that position is set, you can stab the distributor with the rotor alligned to the #1 plug position.  Setup of the TDC is the same for the other cylinder pairs however when stabbing the distributor you want to align the rotor position up to the cylinder on compression stroke (1, 5, 4, 2).

The confusion you may have is that where the original 454 in the motorhome had the timing mark at positions 5/8 or 4/7, the Suburban engine may be at position 1/6.  Principle is the same at each location just different pair combinations.

Dave

[MotorPro]

454 Motorhomes (or at least some) have a timing tab on the bottom of the engine. The stock ones can not be seen from any angle. Thats what the OP is looking for.

[joev]

here is one http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVY-CHEVROLET-OE-7-4-454-BBC-TIMING-COVER-WITH-DUAL-TIMING-TABS-/331063357297?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d14e9ef71&vxp=mtr

[Stripe]

What exactly does that Timing tab do???

[Stripe]

Never mind, read up the first link Dave left.  Did not know they were called timing tabs... I always knew them as Marks.

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

Mark is on the Harmonic Balancer

Tab is the reference scale.

Dave

[ClydesdaleKevin]

Unless your timing is WAY off, I've had great luck with 454s timing them by ear and trial and error.

Kev

[gadgetman]

To get your timing very close w/o a light use a vac gauge. Watch the vac level at idle, raise the timing "idle speed will  increase" and watch the vac reading, raise it till you see max vac then decrease "retard" the timing until the vac is decreased 2 in from your max reading you saw. That will put you very close to max timing you can run. Adjust as needed if it pings "retard" the timing more "lower vac at idle"