New 383 wont fire
What you are saying is true----12 on the cam, 12 on the crank IS in fact no1 ready to fire. If you timed that very same setup at 6 and 12 "by the book" it would produce no6 ready to fire. "They" assume we are smart enough to rotate the engine one turn, or else plug the dist. in for no6
So you look at either no1 or no6 valves if the covers are off, or you "stick your finger in."
Something I've preached here before is to MAKE SURE your timing mark is OK. You might have the wrong balancer (some trucks/ motorhomes) or the balancer outer ring may have slipped.
This is about a half hour procedure for someone who has never done so.
get yourself (or make!!!) a pistons stop
This is one I made for a SB over 30 years ago!! Again this one is SMALL block, not BB/ RB
Pull the no1 plug, make sure the piston is "down a ways" and pull off the battery ground.
Install the device. You may have to adjust the length the first time around. You are NOT trying to stop the piston at TDC but rather "down somewhat" in the bore. Using a socket, turn the engine until it stops, and make a temporary mark on the balancer. CAREFULLY right under the TDC mark on the timing tab.
Next, rotate the engine CCW and do the same thing. You now have two temporary marks and true TDC is halfway in between them. If your original mark is correct, that is where it will be.
What you are saying is true----12 on the cam, 12 on the crank IS in fact no1 ready to fire. If you timed that very same setup at 6 and 12 "by the book" it would produce no6 ready to fire. "They" assume we are smart enough to rotate the engine one turn, or else plug the dist. in for no6
So you look at either no1 or no6 valves if the covers are off, or you "stick your finger in."
Something I've preached here before is to MAKE SURE your timing mark is OK. You might have the wrong balancer (some trucks/ motorhomes) or the balancer outer ring may have slipped.
This is about a half hour procedure for someone who has never done so.
get yourself (or make!!!) a pistons stop
This is one I made for a SB over 30 years ago!! Again this one is SMALL block, not BB/ RB
Pull the no1 plug, make sure the piston is "down a ways" and pull off the battery ground.
Install the device. You may have to adjust the length the first time around. You are NOT trying to stop the piston at TDC but rather "down somewhat" in the bore. Using a socket, turn the engine until it stops, and make a temporary mark on the balancer. CAREFULLY right under the TDC mark on the timing tab.
Next, rotate the engine CCW and do the same thing. You now have two temporary marks and true TDC is halfway in between them. If your original mark is correct, that is where it will be.