How much useable power do these 3A's have?

[Ryan_M]

Check out the part number on the Walck ring gear...

http://walcks4wd.com/ring-gear-flywheel-124-tooth.html


Does your front pulley happen to have a notch in it around the perimeter? Mine did....I'm not sure why...

LOL...I was just coming back to edit my post and speculate that "641955" was a part number and that the flywheel is probably on backwards. Good eyes.

My motor is not original to the Jeep. It was an alleged "new in crate" replacement as found at some surplus supplier in NY back in the late '80's / early '90's.

Not sure if I have a notch on the pulley. I may not be able to check until tomorrow.

[1955CJ-5]

That is just the ring gear, which is a press fit ...

i think the bigger issue is the partial covering of your timing hole...

Now, if you could get a good flashlight and a mirror, and if you were to screw your head on backwards, you might just be able to see the marks through that tiny gap between the casting and the rear plate....!

[Ryan_M]

I was not able to screw my head on backwards (although my wife you tell you it always is) but I do have a notch on the pulley. Here's an old pic of my motor. Can I work with the notch instead of the timing marks on the flywheel?

[1955CJ-5]

I would say that you could only really get in the ball park...In the picture of my engine the mark is at TDC..but there is no mark for you to align your notch with, so you would just have to eyeball it, which might help you find the flywheel marks...the timing mark/pointer that I have is from an M-38, and I altered it so it could be used....

Even if you can't unscrew your head. I'd make an effort to look in that timing hole, between the flywheel and the engine case, and see if you can't find the timing marks...they would be just inboard of the seam between the ring gear and the flywheel....but the more I look at your picture the less likely that seems...

Do you have a timing light?

you could buy an M-38 timing index and go from there. not 100% accurate but better than nothing!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeep-Willys-M38-M38A1-M170-Crankshaft-Pulley-Timing-Pointer-NOS-G740-G758-/171062588793?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27d41ff579

[Ryan_M]

I'm thinking if I can locate TDC on the #1 piston with the use of a pressure gauge I can mark the corresponding location of the notch on the timing cover. From that point I could figure and mark 5 deg BTC and go from there. Does that make sense? I've never really timed anything so this is all new.

[bretto]

You won't be able to find TDC with a pressure guage.  You will have to do the bent wire fishing trick to find the top of the piston travel or drop the pan and look up, or off with the head.

[1955CJ-5]

Yes, as Bretto said,  I think you will have to feel for it....and even at that there will be a small amount of crank rotation that will result in little or no vertical piston movement, when it's right at the top....but you can average it and find center, and you will get very close...and with that mark on the crank pulley you should be able to find it without too much trouble..

Then check your flywheel, and scribe a mark if you can...or maybe if you are lucky one of those numerals in the part number will line up!

But, it runs now, right?

If you were to put a continuity-tester across your points, and rotate the engine until the rotor is pointing at #1 wire position, and when the points break, then you will know where the present setting is.....unhook the battery though, you are just looking for continuity....then compare that with all your various marks, and maybe even the wire-feel test..

[Ryan_M]

Does anyone else have this raised rib on their timing cover? It may be coincidence but it lines up VERY closely with TDC. I messed around with Bretto's bent wire suggestion for a little bit tonight. I didn't spend enough time to get TDC pinned down exactly but close enough to know this rib is on or very near it relative to the notch on the pulley. I'm curious if there are other marks near this rib that may be hidden beneath the paint or exactly what this rib identifies. TDC? IGN? Neither?

[1955CJ-5]

I've read something about timing covers with timing marks...let me see if I can dredge it up...that really looks close....

you might scrape off some of the surrounding paint and see what you find....

[1955CJ-5]

With the pulley mark set opposite that ridge, where is the rotor and are the points open?  Can you get the notch and ridge to line up when the rotor is pointing to #1?

[Ryan_M]

With the pulley mark set opposite that ridge, where is the rotor and are the points open?� Can you get the notch and ridge to line up when the rotor is pointing to #1?

Yes, when the notch and ridge are lined up the rotor points to #1 as it should. I can adjust the points to open or close by rotating the distributor but I'm not sure where on that ridge I should be so if I'm off there everything else is off too. I think I left it roughly in the middle of the ridge. I just found this on the 3B site which makes sense:

"If the bottom pulley was a clock, you'll find the engine cover marks at about the 11:00 position. Sometimes it is a little bulge in the front engine cover, with the left side of the bulge 5 degrees before TDC, and the right side of the bulge at TDC."

[1955CJ-5]

I found this thread..

http://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/tuning-the-47-53_topic12700_post105900.html?KW=timing+marks#105900


And this picture is posted somewhere in it...

[1955CJ-5]

If you don't have the marks I'd go with the bulge...you may have a later 3b f-head timing cover....

Do you have a timing light?

My timing cover was replaced when we rebuilt the engine as the cup that held the seal had come loose...the machinist "found one in the back" so i have no idea where mine came from....

[Ryan_M]

Do you have a timing light?

No, but I didn't have half my current *rear end of tools prior to owning this Jeep. Might as add a timing light to the mix. I'll pick one up this week.

[1955CJ-5]

If you can find a 6v one that would be perfect...but a 12v light will work, but you need a 12v battery to make it work.  I used one of those rechargeable jumper batteries.

If i remember right the light needed to have a common ground with the spark plug sensor and the 12v battery, so I grounded the 12v to the frame, along with the negative cable on the timing light, and then just hooked the positive side of the light to the 12v battery positive terminal. but I have a pretty old timing light....