help timing
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 3
From: Lafayette IN
Re: help timing (jopod)
85-91...There is an EST bypass wire that is near the brake booster that is supposed to be tan/black in color. You run the engine till it is warm, then disconnect this wire at the male/female plug. It is only a one-wire harness.
Once the engine is warm, aim the timing from the drivers side. It helps to have the hood open :D If your balancer hasn't slipped (meaning the elastomer holding the outter ring to the inner ring hasn't deteriorated) you should make sure the engine is at 6 deg before TDC. Some people time theirs at anywhere from 8-12 degrees advanced, which is OK if you know you aren't getting any detonation. Advancing the timing is accomplished by turning it CCW. There is a hold-down bolt on the distributor that might be too tight for you to turn the distributor, and the bolt is a pain in the neck to get to without a good gooseneck wrench.
The timing light needs to be clipped on the #1 or #6 plugwire to time accurately. -Matt-
[Modified by HighHopes85, 4:24 PM 11/27/2001]
Once the engine is warm, aim the timing from the drivers side. It helps to have the hood open :D If your balancer hasn't slipped (meaning the elastomer holding the outter ring to the inner ring hasn't deteriorated) you should make sure the engine is at 6 deg before TDC. Some people time theirs at anywhere from 8-12 degrees advanced, which is OK if you know you aren't getting any detonation. Advancing the timing is accomplished by turning it CCW. There is a hold-down bolt on the distributor that might be too tight for you to turn the distributor, and the bolt is a pain in the neck to get to without a good gooseneck wrench.
The timing light needs to be clipped on the #1 or #6 plugwire to time accurately. -Matt-
[Modified by HighHopes85, 4:24 PM 11/27/2001]
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Re: help timing (BobMachus)
I set it @ 6 degree TBC like the manual says. It won't idle.
When I move it counterclockwise just a bit, the idle smooths out but it won't run @ WOT.
Does that sound like a timing issue?
When I move it counterclockwise just a bit, the idle smooths out but it won't run @ WOT.
Does that sound like a timing issue?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Re: help timing (jopod)
okay so I went outside and got the timing exactly @ 6 degree after TDC.
It ran for a while @ idle then when I drove it around for a few...
OH. duh, I forgot to tighten it down...
okay, back to step one
It ran for a while @ idle then when I drove it around for a few...
OH. duh, I forgot to tighten it down...
okay, back to step one
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 3
From: Lafayette IN
Re: help timing (jopod)
okay so I went outside and got the timing exactly @ 6 degree after TDC.
It ran for a while @ idle then when I drove it around for a few...
It ran for a while @ idle then when I drove it around for a few...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,463
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster CA
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: help timing (jopod)
I had similar problem with timing my high mileage '85 when I bought it. It ran poorly when set at the factory settings of 6 deg BTDC(set while in computer bypass mode). I figured that timing chain could have jumped, or balancer had slipped. Engine had 184000 miles on it. I timed it by ear and after a couple of tries and test runs, found when it ran best, the timing mark was showing severe retard...mark was way off of the timing scale :crazy: :crazy:
I had nothing better to do one weekend, so I opened up the front end of the motor. In the process, found that balancer had slipped badly....so the timing mark was useless. Also found severely loose timing chain. So after new chain & gear set, balancer, & water pump(while I was there)....It runs like a different animal. Now it runs great at the 6 deg BTDC setting, better at 8 :yesnod: :yesnod:
I had nothing better to do one weekend, so I opened up the front end of the motor. In the process, found that balancer had slipped badly....so the timing mark was useless. Also found severely loose timing chain. So after new chain & gear set, balancer, & water pump(while I was there)....It runs like a different animal. Now it runs great at the 6 deg BTDC setting, better at 8 :yesnod: :yesnod:
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