Am I in trouble?

90VertGT

Founding Member
Jul 29, 2001
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My car has a rebuilt 306 in it with about 300 miles total on the motor. I took it to my mechanic to have some suspension parts put on and I had him check and set the timing. I got the car back and it was running warm. It would reach 210 but never go past it. I also heard some marble in a can noises when i was going up a hill or starting from a stop. I drove the car 50 miles or so and decided to check the timing today. It was at 22 degrees! I put it down to 12 and the car is running a lot cooler. When i start from a stop i get a slight knock sound that dissapears from 2k+ RPMs. Any idea what this could be and how bad could driving around with that much timing be? I am pretty mad/scared. Please let me know what you think. Thank you.
 
HISSIN50 said:
take it back to him ASAP! it is his problem.
good luck.

Normally I would I agree but it's obvious that the dude is too freaking stupid to be turning wrenches on your car! Don't give him a chance to finish screwing up what he started is what I'm thinking. Either adjust it yourself or takie it to someone that can find his ass with both hands. I hope this isn't the same person that did your motor for you.
 
Well I set it back down to 12 and now I heard a slight knocking until 2k RPMs then it goes away. What kind of damage do you think this could have caused to my motor? He is NOT the guy who rebuilt the motor. Thanks.
 
Did you degree the engine when you put it together? Is the timing pointer accurate with piston travel? Although you reset it to 12*, the pointer could be 2-4* off, which could make your initial as much as 16* right now.

As you probably know: when the fuel is ignited it creates heat and expands which forces the piston down the cylinder bore with great pressure. When the timing is too far advanced (22*) it builds too much pressure against the piston while the piston is still traveling upwards ... not good on the rotating assembly. :nonono:
 
Understandably so. So it didn't somehow become 22* advanced, it was set there. Had been running fine until you had Homer Simpson wrench on it, yes? Like Hissen said, it [should be] his problem- but like Daggar said, I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw a wrench at this point and I'd imagine you could really chuck one pretty far right now. I assume you have reciepts for the work he did? If not than stay the hell away, otherwise you need to be in his face on this one. Having worked in a shop I usually give them the benefit of the doubt, but if you need to rip that motor down because of his incompetence, then that's what he has insurance for. I wouldn't trust him to do any work in the future, but if he broke something it's his responsibility to make it right. After that, find a new tech. You can even have another place fix his screw up if you play your cards right, but you have to confront him with it first before anyone else touches it. We used to clean up other shops messes all the time like this- but you have to do it right or you'll be up a creek.