Remove the #1 spark plug, hold your finger over the hole, and rotate the engine forward by hand until you feel compression coming out the hole. At this point the timing mark will be approaching the timing tab. Align the mark with 0 and you're close enough for most things except a degree wheel.
8 degrees before top dead center.
Top Dead Center
Top dead center (TDC) is when the number 1 piston is at the very top of it's stroke on it's power (firing) stroke. This holds true for ALL internal combustion piston engines. If you remove the driver side valve cover, the second valve from the front is the intake valve on a small block Chevy, including the 305. Slowly rotate the engine by hand. When the intake valve closes, keep turning the engine until the timing mark lines up at zero. When it does, you are at top dead center.
0 TDC/ TOP DEAD CENTER
6 degrees BTDC. ( BEFORE TOP DEAD CENTER)
0 degress top dead center
The schematic for an 83 Chevy 305 engine can be found in the service manual. It gives the location of each component and how everything is connected.
Is a 2.8 liter engine a 305?
Driver's side, front.
How can you tell a 350 from a 305 engine?
6 degrees before top dead center on the 305 TPI
The TDC is when the number one cylinder is at the top or top dead center of the compression.