hey guys, i'm trying to adjust the valves in my truck for the first time and have it all opened up in my garage, but for the life of me i cant find the top dead center mark, i'm sure i'm looking right past it. Can someone point me in the right direction or tell me where to look? Thanks.

 

seems to me it is a notch on the balancer.

Watch your rockers on cylinder #1 and when they "rock" (exhuast closes, and intake opens, assuming your turning the engine in the correct direction)you will be close to TDC, so then take a good look at the balancer. I think it should be straight up, but can't remember for sure.

 

the balancer on the front of the engine? like down behind the fan and wahatnot?

 

ya the 6" round thing on the front of the crankshaft. will be below the fan and behind it a bit.

 

i appreciate the help, but all i see are notches around the back edge of the dampner, what am i lining up to find TDC? Do i have to pull off the fan and shroud to see it?

 

There should be a line on the outside diameter of the harmonic damper that runs for and aft. The line is thin about 1/32" (1mm) max. It is not easy to see, so get out your brightest light and put on your glasses if you wear them.

 

thanks, i may have to wipe it off a bit, its kinda dusty. where am i lining this mark uip with? is there a mark on the block or just 12 oclock?

 

Look at step #8 of this link for a picture

http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/valve_adj/12_valve.html

 

12 oclock

 

excellent, thanks guys.

 

you dont really need to even worry about tdc. Just pick a rocker, watch it until it lifts, when it comes back down go 10 or 20 degrees further with the crank and then set the gap on that rocker. its not difficult after you do one or two rockers you'll see the pattern in the engine and just cruise along. So long as you never set them tighter then the spec you wont hurt anything. worse that happens is they are a little loose. You'll probably want to roll the motor over and recheck all your clearances just to be sure if you havent done it before.