Timing Problem?

[palerider94]

I had posted something ealier about hestitation problems. I'm pretty sure it is a timing issue.

Car ran perfect last night - got pretty excited thought I had worked out kinks. Went to take out today and it was backfiring thru carb and running rough and dying out (like timing is was severly retarded). Over the last could of weeks semmed like it would run okay for awhile and then get a bad flat spot on accleration like it was not advancing correctly. I would play with timing - retard it - and it would run okay for awhile and then start having hesitation again and would have to advance timing.

I've got a new MSD dizzy ordered should be in a couple of days - but am starting to wonder if there could be a probelm timing chaing or someting else. Really starting to get frustrating - would like to be able to enjoy car this summer.

Any insights on what could cause timing to appear to be fluctuating would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[StephenMarsh]

Keeping in mind that while I'm mechanical -I'm NOT a mechanic - couple things I'd check:

1) check for a miss-pull all the plug wires off at the cap and rest them about their point (so spark will still jump across air gap and fire but you can still pull them off easily and they don't cross fire) - run the engine and pull wires all the way off one at a time - see if your idle changes on any of them - make sure you don't have a miss or an intermittent miss first off.

2) inspect the balancer -if you're using it's marks and it's older than a couple years (some would argue they wear out faster) - your marks have probably drifted so you may not be setting the timing as you think you are

3) make sure the dist is engaged on the right tooth - REALLY easy to put them in a tooth off

4) double check firing order - some cams require swapping firing orders - and double check wire routing

It may not be ANY of that-but it's all free to check - I'm sure there are other things too look at --Steph

 

[palerider94]

Thanks for the tips. How do you know if you have it on the right tooth? Maybe the problem - all kind of started when I pulled distrib to change intake manifold gasket. Thanks..

 

[SoCalCruising]

Check your vacuum advance hose for leak. Could also be the mech. advance in the dizzy is not working correctly.

 

[StephenMarsh]

How do you know if you have it on the right tooth? Maybe the problem - all kind of started when I pulled distrib to change intake manifold gasket. Thanks..

There's a general rule of thumb to it - it's either that the diaphram SHOULD point approx. towards your crotch and NOT towards the pass side headlight bucket - or the other way round - I don't recall - anyone?