I was wondering if anyone has advanced their timing without the dial indicator and if so how far do you have to turn the harmonic balancer to get a couple degrees? and how do you know where the timing is set? my book tells specs only to 13.5 degrees.

 

I think there is someone on here renting the timing kit for $50.You are working in MM its not that much to really screw things up.

 

that helps some, but I still doubt its that hard. I just need an idea because you have about 5* to play with. I know one guy that did it the way I want to but I can't get ahold of him now.

 

5* ha!
You can do alot more than that. I once did mine and put 11mm on it by accident thats 31* of timing. It started and as soon as it started I knew I was wrong.
Still think its that easy without the indicator?

I have read that these truck will run with the timing 180* out.
Do a search and you will see.

 

hmmmmm. maybe they will run 180 out but I dont inted on turning the engine a full turn to time it. What do you mean by 11*? 11* on the harmonic or 11* on the pump gear?

 

11mm not 11*. I had the pump plunger set to 11mm BTDC.
Dont want to rain on your parade, but if you are asking me this question, you NEED the dial indicator.
Do you realize that the pump timing works in tenths of a Millimeter?
You may think you can do it, but it will be wrong.
Here is a pump timing chart.
http://www.piersdiesel.com/TechPTiming.htm

For example I have a 215 pump. Stock timing is 13.5*, the most you would want to run on a stock headgasket and stock head bolts is 16*. Thats a HALF A MILLIMETER. How do you plan on figuring out a half of a millimeter just by feel?
Fill out you sig and location, and someone might have a timing kit nearby.