I have 75 b200 / 318. this is my first dodge, I just installed a 4-barrel air-gap and a 625 carter afb in place of stock 2-barrel, when I went to time it I could'nt find the mark's. I went underneath, used white out to mark the balancer, hooked up the light and it was no where to be found. so I timed it by ear. it runs great. a little hard to start because the timing's off. could the balaner have slipped or did the timing jump?????

 

I'm not sure, I think some of the vans had the timing TAB bolted on in a different spot. (on the passenger side). I would also "now swear" that some vans had the timing back through a slot/ hole in the bellhousing. But it's easy to check

Find, get, build, or buy a "piston stop" like this:

http://www.jerrybramlett.net/images/...stallation.jpg

Remove the no1 plug, make sure the piston is "down a ways", remove the battery ground for safety, and install the stop

Gently wrench the engine around until it "stops on the stop." You may have to adjust a first time setup. Matters not WHERE is stops, but you DO want the piston down somewhat, because----as the piston gets closer and closer to the top, it slows down past TDC, and this reduces accuracy of the test.

So with the piston against the stop, make a temporary mark under TDC on your timing tab.

Rotate the engine CCW until it stops again, and make a second mark. True TDC will be halfway between the two temporary marks, and if the factory mark is accurate, that is where it will be.

 

thank you very much, i was right! the balancer did slip. I'm just going to buy an after market one and also put in gear drive. that should slove my problems. again thank you

 

If your thinking about a cam gear drive, know that they can be noisy. My buddy has one in a big cam engine and with mufflers it sounds like a blower, very annoying.

 

There's no reason to run a gear drive on a mild street engine, and they may not even be as reliable. Just buy a good quality (like Cloyes) "all steel" setup, no phenolic top sprocket.

 

Buy a good quality dbl roller chain like used on the 340