Top Dead Center

[Lee W.]

What is the best tool to buy to find top dead center with out tearing the engine apart ? 1972 440

 

[Adam]

You can feed a length of fuel hose in thru the spark plug hole and rotate it by hand until it stops. Mark the balancer where it happens to line up with zero. Then turn it the opposite direction until it stops and mark it. TDC is exactly between these two marks. You could also use a wood dowel or similar thing.

 

[DetMatt1]

I bought a bore scope a few years ago that comes in handy for just such a thing.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

There are also piston stop tools that thread into the spark plug hole that work as Adam described that are not expensive

 

[Lee W.]

You can feed a length of fuel hose in thru the spark plug hole and rotate it by hand until it stops. Mark the balancer where it happens to line up with zero. Then turn it the opposite direction until it stops and mark it. TDC is exactly between these two marks. You could also use a wood dowel or similar thing.

 

[Lee W.]

Thanks I will try that first

 

[Lee W.]

I bought a bore scope a few years ago that comes in handy for just such a thing.

Have one. do you put it into the cylinder or just out side the spark plug hole ?

 

[Chryco Psycho]

You can place it just inside th spark plug hole so it doesn't get crushed , just remember there is about 5* at TDC where the piston does not move

 

[Lee W.]

Thanks for your help

 

[Xcudame]

The great thing about Mopars is they have a big rod to through ratio, so there is a long dwell time at Top Dead Center!