rear spring then engine issue
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
rear spring then engine issue
hi guy's not a good month for me with the car.first the pass rear nylon-er rear spring nut walked off and the spring ground into the pavement.a 2 mile drive home with sparks flying till it finally wore off enough of the spring to just barely skim the ground.(replace those bolts guy's).new spring and a short test ride later stopped at a light and very light acceleration something clicks and the engine is barely running.two foot ride home and neutral at the lights.pinched all the hoses one at a time checking for vacuum leaks but found none.i'm thinking i jumped the timing chain by a tooth.any ideas on how to progress with testing?could the shock of the spring collapse and the resulting grind home have triggered this?also can the timing set be replaced without removing the radiator?thanks for any help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,504
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Why wouldn't you call a flat bed? Probably would've been cheaper than buying a new spring.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
I don't think the two are related.
How is it running once you get the rev's up?
Could be as simple as a spring in the distributor snapping and allowing full centrifugal advance at idle.
I'd check the simple things first. Put a timing light on it and see if the timing is off. If it is then see if the distributor moved.
Let us know what you find.
How is it running once you get the rev's up?
Could be as simple as a spring in the distributor snapping and allowing full centrifugal advance at idle.
I'd check the simple things first. Put a timing light on it and see if the timing is off. If it is then see if the distributor moved.
Let us know what you find.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
it's running very rough at all rpm's and i put a timing light on it and see no sign of the tdc mark.distributor did not move and does not make much difference when rotated in either direction.thanks 76ray as i will check inside the distributor cap for damage.bashcraft you are right it would have been cheaper and i could most likely have saved the spring but all i could think of at the time was to get her home.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,504
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
it's running very rough at all rpm's and i put a timing light on it and see no sign of the tdc mark.distributor did not move and does not make much difference when rotated in either direction.thanks 76ray as i will check inside the distributor cap for damage.bashcraft you are right it would have been cheaper and i could most likely have saved the spring but all i could think of at the time was to get her home.
I understand wanting to get it home, but all those sparks were right there at the gas tank.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
bashcraft yes i knew that so i slowed down and even stopped twice to let it cool down.by the time i realized what happened there was too much spring tip gone for it to be used.the car has around 97k miles on what i am fairly sure is the original engine.as far as the timing gear goes i have no receipts from either of the last two owners that the timing set was changed.in '98 the cam and other upgrades were added so it should have been done then.i have never opened the cover but i have to believe it is the original chain and gears.every receipt for every screw replaced was saved.must the radiator be pulled on this car to replace the timing set?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,504
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
well got into the timing cover to reveal this.i was surprised because these guy's kept receipt's for everything. only slight play on the chain and no evidence of wear on the sprockets.i will remove the rocker covers next and then troubleshoot the msd system.timing marks when together the rotor is between 5 and 6 and when both at 12oclock between 8 and 1. plugs look ok. this all happened in an instant.you guy's have any ideas?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Go back to your box of receipts and see if they were changed in 98 when the cam was. Or even if you can find exactly what cam was installed, then you can go back and find the matching springs.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
thanks tim and pete.i have the info on the cam but nothing that i can remember on the springs.no info on the timing chain either but looks like he did change it out.should i rely on the speed shop to match out the springs from the cam data?would like to change the one spring first till i have time to do them all.