TDC question
 

I am working on getting my car up to speed before spring. And I'm ready to do a valve adjustment (85 3.2). Admittedly it has been far to long since I have done a valve adjustment, but I don't remember the blue or white painted marks. I did take my car to a Porsche mechanic in Nashville to sort out an issue I was having after installing the 3.2, but that was a long time ago as well and I'm not sure if he is still alive. However, he could have put the marks there. I believe TDC is the white mark with a notch surrounded by two blue marks on each side, but when I look at the dist cap and rotor it looks like the notch on the distributor is slightly off to the cap? When I spin it around to the white w/blue dots again the rotor points to the other side of the distributor. The other pic is of the other notched location that just has a single white dot.

Thanks

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...-my-3-2-a.html

I found this which says I’m on the right mark, but what about the rotor being slightly off.

Also, recall that a four stroke motor rotates twice each cycle, once TDC compression (rotor fires spark plugs) and once TDC exhaust (rotor half way round) so your observation is correct.

Don't know about the dots, sorry.

Your good. The first picture where rotor is pointing up towards fan is tdc for 1. Set your valves. Then turn 120 degree (should be another notch) and set 6. On and on. HAs the car been running ok? Adjusting timing in 3.2 is major surgery. If car is running ok it is probably fine just off the mark.

Thanks guys.

It’s been running fine, I just figured it’s been so long since I adjusted the valves so I needed to check them.

It is a good thing to do. I have been setting them the traditional way then verifying with the backside method.

Well....that sucks

And is this as bad as I think it is?

Oh boy, looks like a broken head stud. That's part of doing the valves, torque the head nuts, to confirm the studs are all OK.

It's a good thing you did the valves, and not keep driving like this.

Cheers
Engelbert