Expert: Don Berlan - 9/29/2006

Question
How can I set the timing without a light?

Car starts but immediatley stalls. spark is good and fuel delivery is good.

Distibutor cap has been off.

Answer
If it starts and then stalls the timing shouldn't be the problem.Having the cap of also shouldn't be a problem unless you tried to start it and the tangs fell into the dist hall effect arms.But it wouldn't even start then,but check the arms.
Now my thoughts of the problem;Check the rubber boots and hoses.They shouldn't be cracked.Any oil leak is a a problem. To set the timing.It will be base timing (you need a timing light to set exact timing).
Bring the engine cyl #1 to top dead center on the compression stroke.Remove the spark plug turn the engine over,the point to where the you can feel the push of air coming out is the compression stroke.
Looking at the rear of the engine there is a hole to which you should be able to see the timing mark for TDC.It looks like a ball bearing in the flywheel.
On the distrbuter #1 should be pointing to where #1 plug wire goes.On the distributer there is a line engraved in the dist it is where #1 is.
If the distributer has not been removed then you should be all set,mechanically as long as nothing has been taken out and messed with ,look in a different direction.