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Slight timing issue

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Old Oct 10, 2008 | 11:54 PM
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Default Slight timing issue

Ive got a small timing problem, not a big enough one to where it runds like crap, the car runs strong, but its enough of a problem to make it hesitate on acceleration and a a solid crusing RPM its not a steady "rrrrrrrrrrrrrr" its more of a "rrr-rrrrRrrrR-rrrrrr-rrrr" ect ect

a friend of mine told me that its small enough that it might be able to be fixed just by rotating the dist cap slightly, Im away from my home due to college and have only basic hand tools, and the lack of a timing light in both townd will make it tricky

Im by no means a timing wizard (as you can CLEARLY see) but Ive read the timing sticky thread and know my way through it in theory

the car is a 1974 L48 by the way

Thanks guys!

Miles
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Old Oct 11, 2008 | 12:32 AM
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Doesn't sound like timing although timing may become an issue later. First off I am making comments based on the explanation you give. Hopefully I can interpret correctly. I hope I can be helpful as I am going thru similar issues and have learned a bit. Whew...

When a motor goes rrr-rrrrRrrrR-rrrrrr-rrrr. It means all rrr's (small r's) are when the motor is firing correctly The big R is called a miss-fire. The firing order is 18436572

Theoretically 18436572= rrrrRrrr
It would be impossible to hear with your ears is as it occurs so quickly but this would suggest a problem with the 6 cylinder in the firing order.

Therefore I suggest. Replace spark plugs. Replace wires. Check timing.

Let us know what happens. Don't advance the timing before fixing these items.
A few other things come to mind but one step at a time.
One other concern. DO you have HEI? If not you may have other issues with ignition along with the wires and plugs.

Last edited by rayluka; Oct 11, 2008 at 12:42 AM.
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Old Oct 11, 2008 | 02:03 AM
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Originally Posted by rayluka
Doesn't sound like timing although timing may become an issue later. First off I am making comments based on the explanation you give. Hopefully I can interpret correctly. I hope I can be helpful as I am going thru similar issues and have learned a bit. Whew...

When a motor goes rrr-rrrrRrrrR-rrrrrr-rrrr. It means all rrr's (small r's) are when the motor is firing correctly The big R is called a miss-fire. The firing order is 18436572

Theoretically 18436572= rrrrRrrr
It would be impossible to hear with your ears is as it occurs so quickly but this would suggest a problem with the 6 cylinder in the firing order.

Therefore I suggest. Replace spark plugs. Replace wires. Check timing.

Let us know what happens. Don't advance the timing before fixing these items.
A few other things come to mind but one step at a time.
One other concern. DO you have HEI? If not you may have other issues with ignition along with the wires and plugs.
I am running the stock points dist.

I replaced the plugs and wires about a year and a half ago, along with tuning the carb over the summer, this is the only reason I think its timing

I think your right with them being mis-fires

running at a steady RPM its just a really unsteady growl, to TRY to explain more clearly the "R"'s are the normal sound it should give out, just like the rest, but louder than the rest

sometime running at about 1500-1700 when one of the louder "R"'s hit, i can almost feel a small surge of acceleration, maby this is my imagination (and it could be), Ill be driving to nixa tomorrow and Ill try to get a sound clip/video of it (the audio on my camera blows so we'll see how it goes)
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Old Oct 11, 2008 | 08:53 PM
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Surging at cruise sounds like it's going lean.

Still running the EGR?
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Old Oct 11, 2008 | 09:55 PM
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Originally Posted by wfo76
Surging at cruise sounds like it's going lean.

Still running the EGR?
it could very well be running lean, its been running hotter than it did before I cleaned/tuned the carb

whats EGR? im sure I am if its stock

Miles
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Old Oct 11, 2008 | 10:09 PM
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Why don't you read through BarryK's "sticky' on Timing at the top of this section. Follow through w/ his great post...Tough for me ( and probably others) to diagnose the which "r" it might be....

Good luck
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Old Oct 12, 2008 | 03:32 PM
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I read them, but its still a little confusing to me

I tried to get a sound clip of the exaust, but the audio is too bad for you to really tell anything appart

Miles
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Old Oct 12, 2008 | 05:09 PM
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Miles, when was the last time you changed the fuel filter? Just a thought.

Dave
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Old Oct 12, 2008 | 06:23 PM
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Originally Posted by shaggyvette
Miles, when was the last time you changed the fuel filter? Just a thought.

Dave
if its the one in the carb then I changed it this summer

Miles
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Old Oct 12, 2008 | 06:33 PM
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check inside the dist. cap
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