302 Timing questions-HELP
 

Having timing problems w/my new motor. Has anyone ever installed the timing gears a tooth off? I'm pretty sure I'm OK but I am curious about the symptons. I have a lot of popping through the intake and it will not idle.

Yeah, that could be a timing chain off a tooth or two. It could also be valves out of adjustment. You could run a compression check. If the chain is off a tooth (or more), the compression will be low in all cylinders.

Take care,
~Chris

Just checked the compression-135 psi in all of the cylinders. What should the readings be on a new engine-only 20 minutes of running time.

If the engine was warmed up when you did the test, and you blocked the throttle open during the test, then those are unusually low numbers, and you are probably off a tooth. Did you not double check it before buttoning it up?

The engine was cold. I did not block off the throttle but I did not open it either. I double checked the teeth a number of times for obvious reasons. I wasn't confident because I advanced or retarted the gears due to valve clearence issues. I can't remember which way I installed it but I believe it was the triangle on the bottom gear.

A tooth off?
 

I have (had) this same exact problem and Chris helped me through it. Chris, I thought you had said there is no such thing as one tooth off? Did I misread something, lol.

PMS....
 

One must remember to turn off supercharger program in PMS before driving vehicle N/A. What a difference! Still breaks up at 5000 RPM at WOT. Talking to Rick ANderson tomorrow.

Re: A tooth off?
 

Different kind of timing. He and I were referring to the valve timing, which is the relationship between the cam gear and the crank gear, which could have been a tooth off. You and I were working with ignition timing, and as we discussed, there is no such thing as "a tooth off" when it comes to ignition timing.

Slow down there, turbo, you're getting ahead of yourself. Actually, I may have to change the name under your username in the RHC forums to Grasshopper, because you really are trying to learn, and that makes me feel like what I'm doing isn't wasting my time.

:)

Take care,
~Chris