Good afternoon Moparts, I been away for a while nice to see everyone still passing on info. I have a question only you all can answer LoL. I have a Jessel belt dive As well as a front mounted distributor with magnetic pick up ring from MSD. My question is how in the heck do I calculate my total timing? I've done it before so other than old age I dont understand why Im so unsure now. I thought I should set the motor to top dead center, faze the distributor and rotor, then back the mag ring from dead on to what I want befor top dead center and then set the timing with the timing light. all of witch would give me my total timing but with 1 inch being 16 degs. thats a long way for the mag ring I thought so I'm messaging you with this question can you help?

John T.

2&1/4" is 35.5 degrees. I'm assuming you are wanting something other than run it up till it wont advance anymore & taking a reading with a dialback or timing tape. If remarking the dampener .0632683" along/around the circumference is 1 deg. I use a 0-1 and 1-2" mikes to measure strips of paper to set my initial from the vacuum gauge method and after shortenening the slot the total I want, 35-SB 36-38-BB 31-magnum with good quench

Thanx Robert, I was not sure witch way to try or witch would be wright. You've been a big help.
Thanx again.
John T.

i'm not sure if i'm following your question correctly (you are using a standard crank trigger correct?) but you do not want to phase the distributor at TDC because when you back the trigger up to where you want it to fire the rotor will not be in the proper position. you should always accurately locate TDC and have a firm reference point for it. once you have TDC located back the engine up to the rough point you want it to fire (30° should be a good starting point) set the trigger at the magnet on the trigger wheel and phase the rotor to the number one cylinder. this should give you a good starting point where you can fire the engine and see where you're at for final adjustment. once timing is set final distributor phasing can be done with a cap with a hole in it (#1 cylinder) and a timing light if you want to get critical. personally i will absolutely not use any timing light that has adjustment on it always use a standard plain jane timing light and go by the degreed damper.

That sounds great James, I I will try that today.
So I will have to add what I have at the cam sproket + pick-up ring for my total timing?
Thanx John T.

i'm not following you maybe you're using parts i'm not familiar with. i'm assuming you're using a jesel belt drive with front mounted distributor and a msd crank trigger with the wheel mounted on the damper

Yes that is my combo, I just finished doing what you suggested, it turn out just great.
My earlyer statement was in reguards to finding my total timing. I set my cam sprocket to 5degs.BTDC so the valves would open at the wright time, do I add that to what I set the balancer and crank trigger at, and expect to see that number when I check the timing with the timing light?

Thanx James for your help