No normal dampener timing marks.

[Bimmerboy]

1971 mk3 just one grove on dampener. Is this TDC or 10 degrees BTDC?
Absolutely no other marking on dampener.
I know to get piston #1 @ TDC but I'm 81 and want the easy way out
if someone can give me a heads-up.
I'm the third owner of an unrestored with 44,000 miles. Is there any reason that
the dampener was changed or is this oem from Ford's 460?

Thanks

Bob V

 

[Action]

The damper on my 70 has two belts. Then the last metal area in the rear of the damper area has multiple timing marks. They are not easy to read against the timing pointed. In addition, the damper can slip given the age.

And you can set base ignition timing using a vacuum gauge and a tachometer.

Engine off. Set idle mixture adjustment screws to 1 1/2 turns as a starting point. Hooked up the vacuum gauge to a manifold vacuum port.
Start engine and warm up. Turn the mixture screws in until the vacuum drops and the engine stumbles and then backed the screws out until maximum vacuum is obtained.

Adjust the base timing to attain the highest engine rpm and vacuum. (With throttle at curb idle speed. The engine vacuum will move up with each adjustment back and forth between the idle screws and the distributor. When there is no longer discernable upward or downward vacuum or rpm, lock down the distributor.

Action

 

[Bimmerboy]

My damper has 3 belts. the Holley carb was set up fine. When the marks are aligned,
The engine pings under heavy load. I'm guessing the marks aligned is 10 degrees or more.
That tells me it's too far advanced, So, I backed off 3 degrees and the idle went down
from 1100 to 900. I then backed off the float and it idle went down to 650ish. Idling
in drive with the A/C on, I taped the throttle quickly and it did not stall. I think I've
solved my high idle and pinging problem.

Thanks for the info.
Bob V