Timing problem

[fastfive0]

Ok, so I had head gaskets replaced last a year and a half ago. Only drove the car a few times last summer and just took it out to have a clutch put in her this past week. So when the guy replaced the head gaskets he told me I would have to set the timing because he only set it enough for it to run.

So I break out the timing gun and try to set the timing (yes i pulled the spout connector). I also connected my ignition to the stock setup (i run an msd 6al and timing control) So when i used to set the timing i had marked my balancer white for 0* green for 10* and red for 15*. I would always set the base timing to 10* then adjust it from the drivers seat with the timing controller.

Well I could not set the timing even close to 10*. Everytime I would get close to the 15* mark the car would stall out. I even set it to the 15* mark and put the spout connector in and still it would not fire. I'm thinking the timing must be a tooth off. Does that sound right?


Whats my next move?


George

 

[final5-0]

Your hb may have slipped causing the mark to be off.

If you are a tooth off, you will have to twist the dizzy a good bit more to find time. If you can't twist it enough, then you will have to move the dizzy one tooth either way.

Grady

 

[fastfive0]

So should i just start from the beginning and just find TDC and go from there? Or should I just move the distributor 1 tooth in either direction and go from there?



George

 

[HISSIN50]

George, Grady hit it right on. The 'one tooth off' thing is an internet misnomer of sorts. As long as you can get the car in time, per your timing gun, you are 'in time'. Now let's say you could only get to 5* before your distributor was physically hitting something and unable to turn further by hand. That would be a time to pull the dizzy (this was common on foxes with the TFI wiring harness acting like a rope on the dizzy). If it indicates being in time, it's 'not a tooth off'.


Grady's other thought was the same as mine - make sure the HB didnt spin. You can get an idea by lookin at the elastomer that connects the inner and outer rings. SOmetimes you can even manhandle the outer ring and spin it a hair yourself.

You could get 'er to TDC to see if the timing mark on the balancer is in concert.

Good luck.

 

[Don 95Vert]

Make sure your marks are on the correct side of zero - not 10/15* retarded...
Don

 

[fastfive0]

hissin, thats my whole point it can't be in time because When I turn the dizzy while I have the gun on it as soon as it gets close to where I have the balancer marked the car stalls right out. So in all actuallity it will not let me set it to where the balancer is marked. The marks on the balancer are correct I have had them marked since I built the stroker 3 years ago.


George

 

[final5-0]

George

Is this a stock oem hb we are talking about here

Grady

 

[fastfive0]

It is a oem style balancer but matched for my stroker dont remember if it was a 0 balance or a 50oz. It is the one piece i went cheap on when i built the motor. I am not at home so I cant check my reciepts.

 

[HISSIN50]

George, your stroker is more likely to have a 28 oz imbalance than a 50 oz.

Lookin like you need to give the balancer a very good visual and then crank the motor to TDC and see if your balancer's timing marks are in orbit somewhere at that piston displacement.

 

[fastfive0]

So what exactly am I looking for on the balancer?

 

[HISSIN50]

So what exactly am I looking for on the balancer?

Look at the elastomer - is it cracked or 'pushed out'? Look at the profile of the outer ring vs the inner hub - does it look like someone hit one hemisphere of the outer ring with a hammer (longitudinal run-out)? Simply stated, does the balancer wobble as the car idles?

If you have it at TDC and the timing marks on the balancer are off by some degrees, that aint good.

Stuff like that. If you search in here, you will find pics of bad balancers. The wise folk like Grady and Don can add much more info.

Good luck.