Serious timing problem...Help!

[Dark_5.0]

OK I put the engine on TDC and the timing pointer is pointing at "0" on the harmonic balancer. So I dont think the balancer has slipped.

WhenI changed the cam I got the marks lined up correctly 100% sure.

With the motor on TDC I drop the distributor in pointing at the #1 cylinder. The motor will not fire up unless I turn the disrtibutor as far as it will go counter clock wise. And then when I hit the balancer with the timing light the timing marks are nowhere near the timing pointer.

I cant get hit the 10 degree mark with the light unless I point the distributor at the #3 cylinder with the engine on TDC.

Could my distributor be bad????

I am stumped.

[andy669]

I wont insult you by asking you a bunch of dumb questions, so heres what I do.

I put a finger in the number 1 spark plug hole and rotate the engine with a big ratchet until I feel air being pushed out of the hole. But instead of putting the timing pointer on zero, I will line up my initial timing number with the pointer. Like on mine, I run 33 degrees total with no advance, so I line up 33 BTDC, THEN I drop the distributor in with the rotor pointing at #1 on the cap.

I see alot of guys drop the distributor in at zero, then they spend the next ten minutes cranking and advancing, trying to get the thing right.

It sounds like you are close, so I hope this helps.

Andy

[USMC302]

Sounds like your a tooth off, pull the Dist back out, go back to TDC, pull the number 1 plug just to be sure of TDC and see where the Balancer is. I would just try restabbing it. Did you degree that cam?

[Dark_5.0]

I did not degree the cam.

I have restabbed the didtributor 100 times.

If I cant figure something out tonight I am going to pull the timing chain cover back off and double check my timing marks.

This sux bad. This is the 3rd cam I have had in this engine and I never had problems before.

[USMC302]

well let us know what you find out, this is really wierd if all is right..

[RoadWarrior]

You dont really need to degree a cam and the problem your having wouldnt be because of that. One possibility is that you have the distributor 180 degrees out. What i would do is what andy669 said. Pull the #1 plug and start to rotate the motor. Make sure that air is pushing out and when it hits the top that is top dead center. Since the balancer will hit tdc twice each cycle. So just make sure youve got the right one.

[Dark_5.0]

LMAO

Well its turns out that I am retarded. LOl

I fixed it and it wasnt a timing problem it was a (working on the car at 2 am and put the #1 plug wire on the wrong terminal on the distributor so I had all off the wires one terminal off on the distributor.)

Yep I am retarded

[302 LX Eric]

At least it wasn't anything serious.

You should have put the beer can down before hooking up the timing light! hehehehe

E

Oh man...that is hilarious! At least you were brave enough to post what actually happened. Sometimes it's the little thing that you overlook.