239 ci timing marks

[54pathfinder]

1954 239 L6 pontiac motor. my manual calls the timing "3B" then it says: mark consists of three lines on crankshaft pulley. first line is 6 degrees BTDC. second line is 2 degrees BTDC. third line is at Top Dead Center. which mark do i aim to line up with the pointer? which line is the first line? thanks, i find this set up kind of vague compared to some of the later year cars with numerical stamping .

[Dale Fairfax]

Looking down from the front of the car, the 1st line is to your right. The crank pulley is rotating clockwise when looking from the front. The 1st mark is the first one to reach the pointer.l

[54pathfinder]

thanks Dale, so then i set it up to have the middle of the three lines flashing at the pointer. that means its 2 degrees BTDC right now? if the manuals call for 3 degrees how do you obtain that with only three lines? do you go a little past the mark i'm at and hope its 3 degrees? thanks.

[Dale Fairfax]

If the timing light flashes at the center mark, it should be 2*. That's probably close enough but you could divide that space between the 6* mark and the 2* mark into 4 equal spaces and mark with a scriber. Or, as you say, "just a little" AHEAD of the 2*mark.

[54pathfinder]

thank you for the help!