318 timing mark

RustyRatRod said

You can use the parts you have on there now.......whatever they are. Find TDC. Pick an appropriate spot where you can SEE both the balancer AND the timing cover.......or WHATEVER reference you want to choose on the engine and mark it. You can mark it ANYWHERE on the balancer and engine you want. It does not matter where. As long as the corresponding mark on the balancer and wherever you choose on the engine line up at TDC, you are fine.

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Triple R........The OP doesn't have to pick a spot for a mark...........he's got one, two actually, one on the damper, and one on the timing tab on the front cover, and they probably line up just fine at TDC.

It sounds like the OP is confused about the differences between a 273 and a 318 and what he should do for timing purposes. It's also sounds like his father-in-law was on the ball, knew what he was doing, when he swapped the 273 damper and timing cover over to the 318. This is really a nonissue. The OP has marks, they are factory marks, in the factory location, put a light on it an set timing.........273 spec's....318 spec's.....custom setting.......where ever the car performs best. I suspect that's the problem..........he doesn't know what spec's should he use? 1964 273, or what ever 318..........what distributor does he have? That there tells the story.