can't find timing mark

I can't see the timing mark when I put the timing light on it. Let me tell you what I've done so we're on the same page. I pulled the left side valve cover and cranked the engine over, when the intake valve on #1 cylinder opens and closes then comes to top dead center the timing mark is on zero. This is assuming that the second valve on the left hand side is the intake.When I do this the distributer rotor is pointing to #1 cylinder spark plug wire. Having done all of this I'm pretty sure everything is right. I've even painted the timing mark yellow.
So why don't I see the mark when I put the timing light on it. Did I miss something somewhere, am I doing something wrong. Has anyone had the same experience and what did you do to solve it.

 

This is a :v6: right ? Are you only cranking it.. or is it idling when you are using the timing gun ?

Your timing mark may be advancing so much you cant see it. Try pulling the vac advance line on your dist.

Is this a stock points dist ? I have upgraded mine to a HEI.

 

With the mark on TDC you have to have both valves closed on nr #1 to be in firing mode. If not then rotate crank again.

 

Yes, this is a 225 v6. The rotor is pointing to #1 cylinder when timing mark is on TDC and both valves are closed.The engine is running with the distributer vacuum disconnected and plugged. Still no mark visible.

 

1 of 2 things comes to mind, do you have the timing light pickup on #1 plug wire? or the timing is that far out. the timing light flashes when power is transmitted thru the plug wire, if you are on the wrong wire it will flash at the wrong time thus (no visible timing mark) if it is that far out of time it wont be where you are looking, it will be either before or after where the timing numbers on the motor are located. make sure your pickup is on #1 plug wire and look a little harder, you will find it

 

Just for the heck of it I put the timing light on #4 cylinder, the one thats 180 degrees from #1 and also the one that the timing mark comes up to TDC when #1 does not. Just for those that don't undrstand the timing mark goes around twice while the distributor goes around once. Anyway there it is, the timing mark is as clear as it can be.
Something is out 180 degrees out what is it. You would assume that it was the distributor but as I stated before when the intake on #1 clylinder open and closes and comes to TDC on the compression stroke the distributor is pointing to #1.
What am I missing or when the engine was put together was something done wrong that still alows it to run normally.

 

What distributor do you have ? With the HEI, there can be some odd setups.

Just throwing out ideas.. do you have the stock timing cover, the timing marks will be part of the cover, not bolted on. #1 is on the drivers side, closest to the front/grille of the jeep right ? Do you have one of those timing guns that have a dial on it ? Ive had them not work properly.

 

it should show up on either one of those, as you stated the motor goes around twice to the dist once, timing light flash at all on #1? plugwire crossed up some where?

 

When I installed the Pertronix unit into my distributor on my F134 I lost the timing mark like that.
It started and ran extremely well.
I just moved the timing light lead from plug wire to plug wire until it showed up and that is what I used for timing.

As long as it runs the way it does like it is now, I am not going to change anything.