2.3 Timing issue

Igofaster13 · Apr 20, 2008

Ok not a mustang but my boat has a 87 Ford 2.3L engine and maybe you guys can help?? Recently the engine was running good all morning until the end of a 15 min ride at near WOT. The engine did not over heat, or make noises really, It just stopped suddenly at near WOT and would not fire after that. Got it home on the kicker...

I checked the compression and all are good at around 165-175 psi on a Cold engine. I checked spark and a good spark was present, checked for fuel and the carb sprayed when the throttle was depressed. checked the timing belt, it aligns with the timing 0 mark on crank, checked rotor position and it seemed to be pointing at #2. I got it running by aligning the distributer to #1 on tdc. The timing belt is aligning right... But it seems the distributer is getting out of wack somehow...As i was timing it to 10* the thing started going down the timing grid and finally went below 0 and stalled out.

It has a mallory distributor points style.

Any help?

bhuff30 · Apr 20, 2008

Check the distributer gear and the auxilary shaft gears. These tend to wear/break over time.

Igofaster13 · Apr 21, 2008

bhuff30 said:
Check the distributer gear and the auxilary shaft gears. These tend to wear/break over time.

Checked them this morning, They look good/normal no bad wear or broken gears. Timing belt looks good, but old. What could be going on?

bhuff30 · Apr 21, 2008

The only other idea I have... there is a pin that prevents the distributer gear from rotating on the shaft. It's possible you broke that.

How did you check the Aux shaft gear? You really might want to pull it out instead of just trying to look down the distributer hole. It could easily have a missing tooth and you'd never know it. It happen to me.

Igofaster13 · Apr 22, 2008

bhuff30 said:
The only other idea I have... there is a pin that prevents the distributer gear from rotating on the shaft. It's possible you broke that.

How did you check the Aux shaft gear? You really might want to pull it out instead of just trying to look down the distributer hole. It could easily have a missing tooth and you'd never know it. It happen to me.

I checked it by rotating it and looking down the distributor hole, all the gears were intact. This thing has really got me right now....

SILENTCARL · Apr 23, 2008

It really sounds like a problem with the distributer drive.

Check and double check the roll pin in the distributer drive gear. Very common for those to shear off, and almost be unnoticeable under visible inspection.

Then check and make sure the bolt in the aux shaft (that holds the pulley driven by timing belt) is tight.

Lastly, a worn timing belt can jump teeth...

Hope that helps.

Igofaster13 · Apr 23, 2008

SILENTCARL said:
It really sounds like a problem with the distributer drive.

Check and double check the roll pin in the distributer drive gear. Very common for those to shear off, and almost be unnoticeable under visible inspection.

Then check and make sure the bolt in the aux shaft (that holds the pulley driven by timing belt) is tight.

Lastly, a worn timing belt can jump teeth...

Hope that helps.

Ok , I changed the belt today... same thing runs for a minute... sounds good put timing gun on.. try to time at 10... see mark at 10...starts to go down on its own... starts to run rough and stall. Then distributor is off on TDC, points near #2. and it takes a lift out to #1 on the distributer to run again.
I also took the aux shaft out and inspected it. rolled it on glass, looks good....Slight wear on distributer and aux shaft gears nothing major. Roll pin looks good...

Igofaster13 · Apr 23, 2008

SILENTCARL said:
It really sounds like a problem with the distributer drive.

Check and double check the roll pin in the distributer drive gear. Very common for those to shear off, and almost be unnoticeable under visible inspection.

Then check and make sure the bolt in the aux shaft (that holds the pulley driven by timing belt) is tight.

Lastly, a worn timing belt can jump teeth...

Hope that helps.

I think it may be the roll pin, one side is sheared and the gear is able to move around when I hold the shaft in place.... Is there any way to fix the roll pins?

bhuff30 · Apr 23, 2008

Take a punch, and tap the old pin out. Then, tap a new pin in.

Igofaster13 said:
I think it may be the roll pin, one side is sheared and the gear is able to move around when I hold the shaft in place.... Is there any way to fix the roll pins?

Igofaster13 · Apr 23, 2008

Got it out, thanks!

Igofaster13 · Apr 24, 2008

Fixed - New roll pin and she runs great!

bhuff30 · Apr 24, 2008

Great! Now how about turboing it?

85_SS_302_Coupe · Apr 25, 2008

How does it do for a boat engine? I heard that the 2.3 turbo engines are only about 75lbs lighter than a 302.

2.3 Timing issue

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