Timing Newbie
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 105
Likes: 3
From: Madison AL
Timing Newbie
Reading through the sticky thread on timing, I *feel* like I know what I'm doing, but I'm having an issue and wondering if I put my distributor or harmonic balancer in wrong. Since I've got it all back together now, it idles great (thanks to LARS for the rebuild!) but when I'm driving it, it just has no power and will stall if I give it too much gas. Going up a hill it crawls. I'm assuming it's timing because if I cover the intake with a rag and it stalls so I don't think I have a vacuum leak.
I get my marker on the balancer right on TDC and set my light. I get my engine up to 2500rpm and turn it to 36 degrees but the marker line goes way below the TDC mark. I twist the distributor counter-clockwise as far as it'll go but it only brings the line up to the bottom of the number plate. Could I have screwed up installing a harmonic balancer or did I possibly put my distributor in wrong? It is seated, and it's in the same position that it was when I removed it. Any thoughts.
Sorry for the repetitive question that I'm sure everyone is sick of reading. I've seen a few people comment on how their balancer spun and I don't know what that means or how that could even happen.
I get my marker on the balancer right on TDC and set my light. I get my engine up to 2500rpm and turn it to 36 degrees but the marker line goes way below the TDC mark. I twist the distributor counter-clockwise as far as it'll go but it only brings the line up to the bottom of the number plate. Could I have screwed up installing a harmonic balancer or did I possibly put my distributor in wrong? It is seated, and it's in the same position that it was when I removed it. Any thoughts.
Sorry for the repetitive question that I'm sure everyone is sick of reading. I've seen a few people comment on how their balancer spun and I don't know what that means or how that could even happen.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 105
Likes: 3
From: Madison AL
I think I have it worked out! Thanks to an article Lars wrote. It's still not 100% because it has a hard time rolling over but once it's going, it sounds good. I don't think I'm going to fool with it anymore and instead put my efforts into changing it out to an HEI setup.
Last edited by mijohnst; Jul 24, 2021 at 06:47 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Please don't use old, outdated, and altered articles you find on the Internet. E-mail me for valid, current articles that have not been altered. Do not use, or further promote, that article you just posted. My "real" articles are marked with a Copyright.
Lars
V8FastCars@msn,.com
Lars
V8FastCars@msn,.com
Last edited by lars; Jul 24, 2021 at 06:38 PM.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
You do not have enough mechanical advance for whatever reason.......it may be stuck, damaged, etc.......you need to find out why.
You have advanced it to 36 degrees but now your initial is way high.....this is why it is hard to start....but runs good otherwise.
Inspect your advance unit.
Balancers are made of two pieces...inner and outer......they are held together by potted rubber. This rubber can and will crack and shrink over time causing the inner and outer shell to slip around each other.
Jebby
You have advanced it to 36 degrees but now your initial is way high.....this is why it is hard to start....but runs good otherwise.
Inspect your advance unit.
Balancers are made of two pieces...inner and outer......they are held together by potted rubber. This rubber can and will crack and shrink over time causing the inner and outer shell to slip around each other.
Jebby
Last edited by Jebbysan; Jul 26, 2021 at 02:25 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
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From: SW Florida.
lars. this article you speak of. can you say where it is found so we know which one not to take as gospel? or if it is in a thread here, i think the moderators could make it go away, especially if it is misquoting you.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 105
Likes: 3
From: Madison AL
Thanks, Jebbysan! Right now I have the car on the lift and redoing all the u-joints, so I thought this would be a good time to swap over to an HEI distributor, based on what a friend of mine was saying. At that time we swap it, I'll try to get it timed right. I'm not even sure how to do it, but he does. lol
