TDC

[Gary C.]

Anyone have a sure fire way to verity top dead center. I know I can remove a rocker cover and verify both valves are closed, but I was hoping for a simple method. I do not have a whistle, does anyone know if those things work, and particularly if the whistle will work when turning the engine over by hand?

[Joe L.]

Re: TDC

Gary------

Assuming that you're interested in finding TDC for the purposes of distributor installation, the only ways that I know of are either removing a rocker cover and noting the valve positions as you mentioned, using the whistle-like devices, or just feeling for build-up of pressure with finger at the spark plug hole.

The "finger" method is way too much trouble, the whistles do work, but I never use them. I always just remove a valve cover and then I'm 100% sure I got it right. It's really no big deal to remove the valve cover; all you need to remove, of course, is one. Gives an opportunity to inspect and/or replace the valve cover gasket which are always a major leak source for Chevrolet engines of old.

[Eugene B.]

Re: TDC

Gary,
A tip that I learned from my grandfather and uncle is to remove the spark plug and insert the proper sized cork. (Available from your local hardware store).

You can then turn the engine over with a remote starter switch until the number one cylinder (or whichever cylinder that you are working on) pops its cork. You can then bring the cylinder up to TDC according to the timing ticker.

Good luck on your project.

Gene

[David B.]

Re: TDC

Gary,

Check for an email. Hope this helps.

Dave B.

[Clem Z.]

Re: TDC

i would just used my finger over the plug hole if you are just looking for TDC compression stroke for installing the dist. if you want to check the true TDC you need a piston stop.