I've got a 1989 z with a 305 carb setup (block and heads from an 84 Camaro, dunno about anything else). When I try to time the motor, I can get it running but the distributor needs to be turned a lot, and when my timing light flashes the timing mark on the balancer is well above the timing tab (12 or 1 o'clock). The distributor is a coil in cap style, with a vacuum advance. Any ideas?

 

This should help........ http://www.classiccarauto.com/impala...tributor.shtml

Pay attention to the rise and fall part,it's a common mistake to get the dizzy in wrong because of the oil pump drive.

Also very important!....

Don't forget the number one cylinder firing position on the GM HEI distributor is at 5:30 on the clock face, not 6:30 like the classic chevy breaker points distributor. You will find that these distributors are interchangeable when you position the rotor where it belongs for each.

 

Went out and followed the steps, rotor was pointing at 5:30 with the #1 piston at TDC. Harmonic balancer is new. Timing tab is an aftermarket one put in the typical place on the timing cover. Is it possible this is an older distributor, with an HEI cap? The amount I turned the distributor by in order to get it running well about puts the rotor under the plug wire at the 6:30 position.

 

But is the tab in the correct spot? An aftermarket timing tab designed for an older style engine can be in a different place. Did you put it on, or did someone else? Is the stock timing cover and stock timing tab still there? A picture showing the tab's position would be helpful.

 

I put the tab on. The kid *coughmoroncough* who "built" this motor put one of those fancy-pantsy chrome timing covers on it and guess what? Left off the timing tab. I got the dressup tab that the cover called for and put it on.
Sorry for the blurriness, but here's the pic..

 

I guess I should have said a good pic would help!
It's hard to get some perspective on that in relation to the timing chain cover.
Best thing is to know for sure that TDC on #1 cylinder really is TDC.
Remove the #1 spark plug, and bring the engine around to approach TDC compression stroke using the finger pressure method. Get yourself a small diameter wooden dowel rod and stick it down the plug hole, resting it on top of the piston. Turn the engine over clockwise by hand until the dowel just stops moving. With a marker, make a reference mark on the balancer adjacent to the TDC mark on the timing tab. Now keep turning the engine over clockwise until the dowel starts to go down. Back the engine counter-clockwise until the dowel just stops moving, and make another mark on the balancer. The measurement between those two marks is TDC. If that's not where the timing groove is on your balancer, you'll need to scribe a new mark and follow that one.
Without double-checking your TDC, you're just guessing that the timing tab is in the right spot.

 

I'll give it a shot, thank you. The tab, btw, comes up to about the 2 o'clock position on the balancer.

 

Thank you, you were right! The timing mark on the balancer was about an inch and a half off, putting me right at a tooth off. It took me a couple of tries getting a feel for the dowel method but I think I have the timing about spot on now. Thanks again.