I would like to check/advance my timing but I'd rather not purchase the tools just to do it once. I also find it hard to justify paying anybody to do something that I can easily do myself (especially when paying them is usually about the same price as the tools, from what I've seen ). Is there a person or place in the greater Portland, OR area that rents or is willing to rent the timing tools? I'm willing to put down a security deposit or anything like that.

 

im gonna buy my own from Snap On. SP500 is the part number and its $205

 

I think you'd be better off buying them. Then you can change your timing whenever you want. Once you buy those, you'll want a pulse adapter and timing light as well.

 

hi
where do you get a pulse adaptor and what kind of timing light do you use ?

how much do they cost ?

 

Years ago I got the following from one of our members here.

May be redneck, but it works every bit as well as the Snap On stuff.

"Hey no problem, I dont mind helping.
Well, You can get a delivery valve socket from piers diesel for $30.
2. For the dial indicator, Harbor Freight sells them for $10, and it works just as good as an expensive one. It has been used ot the forum more than once. The only prob. with it is it is in inches. That isnt a big deal, because if you search on DTR people have converted the mm to in. measuremens.
3. For a dial indicator holder, you can use a drain plug from our cummins. I went to autozone and they had one for $5.00. You just drill out the center so the dial indicator slides in there. Then you need to drill and tap a small hole for a set screw in the side of the drain plug, so the indicator doesnt move.
4. For the gear puller, any cheap steering wheel puller will work. You can get them from auto parts stores, for under $20.

I did mine this way and it worked out great. I looked on ebay and came across a metric dial indicator for cheap, after I did it with the inch dial indicator.

There you go, under $70."

 

Call this Portland area vendor and see if they can help or direct you.
They're very good folks> http://sourceautomotive.biz/

 

Oh yes, I'm familiar with Source Automotive. I've been down there several times.

Patdaly, that's great info to have! Especially considering that I already have a high quality dial indicator for setting up gear sets. I may just go about it that way.

 

Add to Pat's tips
Barring tool can be made by welding an old starter gear to a socket
You can modify a stock oil pan plug into a dial indicator holder. The threads are same.


About the only things you need to buy are the DV socket (about $30)and maybe an extension for your dial indicator.
If you can weld a very strong gear puller is easy to fab up.

 

My set screw is higher up in the plug, I ground out part of the sealing face to keep the set screw high. With that, a typical 1" dial works great. I mount a metric dial on top, then its at zero and I don't have to do any math on the timing charts. Only things I had to buy was the 1" dial, which was about $25, the gear puller ($25, there was a cheap one there for 7, but not as nice). A friend gave me the DV socket, and my barring tool came with my Cummins' tool kit. The tool kit was $90, Snap-on wanted $70 for the barring tool alone.

For the pulse adapter and timing light, both are Blue Point. Any snap-on guy can get it, or buy it off the website. Not cheap, but totally worth it, especially when you get a goofy pump that doesn't follow timing charts, or you get into quick-rate cams.

 

I have a diesel timing light but never use it for changing the timing.
Works excellent for just checking the timing though.

 

I like to do a before and after with the light. Helps catch inconsistencies, and occasionally gets me out of work (find the timing is bumped before disassembling anything).

 

I know this would be asking a lot, the next time one of the experts does a timing job could you video it and post on youtube? I have read about it over and over but could use something visual to help me along.

Floyd

 

I saw this yesterday. $149.99

http://www.puredieselpower.com/catal...t-p-28753.html

Here is the way to set timing:
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1994/18-10-94a.htm

 

Still need a DV socket, and a barring tool is highly recommended.