timing problems?

[95turbo351]

I'm still in the long process of putting a turbocharged 351 in my 95gt. I'm prbably going to have to run the old 302 to pass emissions though but the old motor had a strange timing problem. The motor was completely stock except for a large k&n filter and long tube headers. I ran the car before I started to pull it apart and my timing light was shining on the opposite side of balancer than the timing numbers were on. I doubled checked and then doubled checked again to make sure I didn't have a spark plug wire crossed but this was not the case. I rotated the distributor both ways as far as it could go but still could not get any numbers to show on the balancer cover. The motor was running real f****d during all of this and no adjustments on the distributor seemed to do it any justice. I'm wondering if it could be that little module underneath where the stock air cleaner was I think it was called the spark output module. If not I was wondering if anyone thought it could be the distributor or the timing chain that could cause this. If anyone has ever expierenced this kinda of situation before or has any idea what might be wrong I'd really appreciate some info cause I'm stumped.

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

Your distributor is in 180 degrees off. They'll run that way, but really shi**y. It's a simple fix, just pop the distributor out, spin the rotor around 180 degrees, and stab it back in. Then pull the SPOUT, and time it as usual.

 

[BPA]

dead on.. do what he said

 

[95turbo351]

Thanks for the info guys, did anyone know what could of caused this to happen? The reason I'm wondering why is because the distributor had never actually been removed before.

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

Hmm... if the distributor has never been removed, you could need a new balancer. They wear out over time, and yours could've spun around, making your timing indicators way off. It would make your engine feel like it's running terrible because it's out of balance.

 

[urban96]

my car wouldnt start/run with the dist 180 off

 

[a50sn95]

It's not the distributor. Likely that the outer ring on the balancer has spun. Very common on these cars. Really, having the distributor out 180 wouldn't cause that anyway, since you'd have to have the cap rotated 180 as well (Our caps will only go one in one position). My point is, the rotor would still have be pointing at #1 when it's at TDC, or it simply wouldn't run. Also, if it was 180 out (it wouldn't run, and), ithe pointer would STILL be pointing at TDC (but #6 would be on the compression stroke), since the crank rotates twice for every one time the distibutor goes around.
Anyway, Just pull number one spark plug (passenger side front), stick your finger in the hole, and rotate the crank with a socket. When you feel/hear air coming out, that's the compression stroke. I'm not sure you can accurately find TDC through the spark plug hole, but you should be able to get close if you can see in the hole. When you think you have it, look at the balancer. If it's not pointing at TDC (or close) your balancer is jacked.
Dennis