How do you set the timing on a 1987 Chevy 305 vortex in a ck?

Answer 1

get # 1 piston to tdc, # 1 is drivers side in very front, then remove distributer cap, and make sure rotor button is facing or pointing at the # 1 piston, if it is'nt lift out distributer rotate and reset it down so that it will point at piston # 1, repalce cap, the prong on the cap that faces the #1 piston will be youre # 1 on the cap then follow your firing order, 1-3-5-7 on the drivers side 2-4-6-8 on the passenger side. "FRONT TO REAR" on both sides, your caps firing order will be inbeded on the front of the intake, this method will get you operationaly very very close and will be able to run her, but if you want performance then put a timing light on her and set at 12 degrees past tdc "the very last mark or line on your timing plate on towords the left on the harmonic balancer wheels plate, now your haulin...........

Correction: After you get it on TDC of compression stroke for cylinder #1, Drop the distributor in with the rotor facing cylinder #1. Wire up the plug wires. Disconnect the ETC wire (tan/black wire to the right of the distributor coming out of the big wire loom). Hook up a timing light. Base timing is supposed to be 0°, but advance it 6-8° and see if it runs better. Some people go 12°. Also, the Vortec came out in the trucks in 1996. If you have the stock motor still it is not a Vortec. It is a center bolt valve cover motor with TBI.