No BB/ball on the flywheel for timing on my FJ70 3F?

[MalcolmY]

1991 FJ70 3F Manual Transmission

I spent a couple of hours trying to see the timing of this engine, until I gave up and convinced myself that there's no ball somehow.

I made a video with the timing light that I'll post below, and a few frames from the video that may help. This is my first time attempting to time any car ever, so I don't exactly know what to expect. Videos on YT for other cars seem very easy but this one is very difficult to see (the location on the flywheel doesn't help).

 

[MalcolmY]

I figured it out.

My INNOVA timing light has an advance/retard function, and I understand it you can manipulate when the light flashed (in degrees) in relation to the ignition source (#1 cylinder wire). I played with it yesterday, theoretically I can "find" the BB by changing when the light flashes. I went from 1 to 15 degrees, and 90 to 80 degrees but I couldn't see it. That could mean that the timing should be off by tens of degrees, but the engine was running smooth! I don't know what was happening.

Anyway, today I moved the distributor until I found it, set it to either 8 or 9 degrees (most likely 9). The engine ran noticeably cooler, and the vacuum increased from 11 to 12 inches. I still don't like the vacuum numbers I don't know what's the problem with that, yet.

 

[mattressking]

12 is pretty low, you have a sizeable leak that needs sorting. Get the vac diagram for a 3F and trace each one to its source.

 

[MalcolmY]

If the PCV valve is broken (clicking would it affect the vacuum?

I tried finding the leak with a starter fluid with no luck. One of the lines going to the carb (facing LHD driver side fender) has no vacuum, no suction. I found someone jammed it with something I have no idea why. Even when I cleared the line nothing changed