Timing

[Mike]

I have a question on timing. My cap moves around a bit, due to me not tightning it down mainly, but here is my problem, when I have it set to run smooth and start quick, it seems to have little power, but when it idles rough and starts weak it runs strong. Is it possible to have the dist set in wrong, a gear or 2 off? Would the truck still run good, just not perfect?

[BUBBA]

I would say if you have a couple hours to kill pull the drivers side valve cover off, and the dist. cap. Put a rachet on the crank and turn it till the intake valve opens and then closes then watch the balancer to come up to top dead center.

If the rotor is pointing to where your #1 cylinder would be on the cap then no the dist. is dead on.

The dist. cap should have the power wire ports running parrellel with the fire wall or very close, if not you could be out a tooth or two.

[4more]

350s love more timing when you advance the timing(counter clockwise )it will crank harder but run better as long as it does not ping on hard accel if it does retard it back slightly

[mommasboy]

Instead of pulling the valve cover you can also take out the #1 plug and crank the motor with a wrench, you should feel the compression blowing past your finger. When it stops and starts to suck, back it up until a ways the start up again, stop when you think it is at tdc and feel in there with a ziptie or pensil and make sure its up all the way. If it was off a tooth or 2 it would take alot of advance or retard to make it run right and you would know if it did cause the dist would have to be set in weird



Chris



91\' S-10,

383 Stroker, World Products heads, Team-G intake, NOS 100-150 shot, Longtube headers, 3\'\' all the way back.

[BUBBA]

The only reason I feel the valve cover should come off is you know for sure that it was under compression to TDC and not on exhaust.

Its fool proof and no mistakes

[4more]

6 of one half dozon the other-if your off a tooth the dis would have to be turned alot from normal position to run

[bohn333]

I set my timing at 38 degrees total advance and my truck still ran like shit. I advanced mine a good inch before it started to run good. Now i have heard of timing marks being off before but i\'m living proof that its true..it can happen. If my mark is right than mine is so far advanced that it should run with the space shuttle...lol But don\'t believe everything you see. Balancers can be off. I\'m no expert on timing but i advanced mine to when it starts hard when hot then backed it off abit, and my plugs look great. Double check to just make sure !!!! Balancers stock or aftermarket can be off.

[4more]

the last engine i had in my s10 the marks were also way off did it buy ear and it ran great