Basic Tips for Easier Vehicle Timing

In my past mechanic experience and my current work at a auto parts store, I have seen a lot of capable do-it-yourselfers who have a lot of trouble when it comes to vehicle timing. It would seem to me that they don't know the easy way, because I see them all doing it the hard way.

Part of the reason why mechanics make decent money is by doing things the easy way. A job that would normally take a novice 3 hours, and bills for 3 hours; ninety percent of mechanics would have the job complete in a quarter of the allotted three hours because they know how to do things the easy way. (The three hour time quote is just an example for illustration here. No timing job could be complete in three hours.)

It's no mistaking that timing on older model vehicles is somewhat easier than timing on newer model vehicles. They had simpler timing marks then and simpler ways to set it. Timing was also adjustable by distributor on older models. Older models had a timing chain.

On older vehicles, timing is fairly simple. You could pretty much take it apart in pieces, (such as chain, cam gear, crank gear), put it back together with your timing marks lined up, and then do your minor adjusting with your distributor. Of course, to reiterate, this is a simplified version of doing timing on older model vehicles and is not meant to be a comprehensive guide.

However, your newer model vehicles are slightly different. You know have duel overhead cam, single overhead cam, and overhead valve. These motors are more involved. Newer model vehicles also have timing belts instead of timing chains, they are rubber versus metal.

You can go to your public library, online resources, guides like Chilton, that will give you information on timing. I highly encourage you to get written information on how to do your timing before you undertake the job. Some form of walk-through to guide you in the process.