Timing won't stay set

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of the ditributor is not moving and the breaker plate and advance mechanisms are working correctly and the distributor shft is not loose in the housing (bad bushings in the dizzy cause this) the the only other possibility is a bad timing chain. if the timing chain is loose or the gear teeth are worn then the chain will slip and physically change the timing because it will either advance or retard the camshaft and the distributor as well.

i would be willing to bet a lot of money you have a bad timing chain :nice:
 
Have you taken out the Distributor to inspect it? (I didn't see if you did.) I had this issue and after I pulled out the distributor I could NOT turn it by hand. Yes I know you state that the distributor is not moving, but I also don't think it's the timing chain, because if the chain was moving that much each time, your motor would never run.
 
Good idea, I have seen that too!



the balancer slipping won't cause the timing to change though, it will only change the position of the numbers on the balancer, which will be a problem when you try to set the timing but it won't change how the engine runs. i'm guessing this is why he asked the question in the first place. if the timing chain is stretched or is slipping a tooth the actual timing will be effected but the marks on the balancer won't move in relation to the crankshaft so the actual crank timing will stay the same, the cam timing will change though, however. if it only slips one or two teeth you can change the timing on the dizzy to help offset the effect but ulimately the cam timing will still be off.
 
when you come back from the drive, is the car idling higher than it was. If the timing it really advanced, that will make it idle higher. I'd check to see if your dist gear is ok. If it's geting chewed up, it would retard it...but maybe a sheared pin. Only other time I've seen what your describing was caused by a broken block. Don't ask me how.
 
Does it run better when you move the timing back or is it getting worse?

It does not run better, it runs worst when the timing is moved back, Like I said earlier the higher the timing the betters it runs, and the only reason I knew the timing was high is because I can't get it started after a drive, because the timing was so high. The first time I checked it the timing was at 42 degrees and I thought that it run great.
 
when you come back from the drive, is the car idling higher than it was. If the timing it really advanced, that will make it idle higher. I'd check to see if your dist gear is ok. If it's geting chewed up, it would retard it...but maybe a sheared pin. Only other time I've seen what your describing was caused by a broken block. Don't ask me how.

The idle is higher, I have not checked the pin or the gear yet. That is the only thing that I have not looked at. But after checking those things I'm out of idea's and it's another thing I will put in my book of wierd stuff, that I cant figure out about the car.
 
The idle is higher, I have not checked the pin or the gear yet. That is the only thing that I have not looked at. But after checking those things I'm out of idea's and it's another thing I will put in my book of wierd stuff, that I cant figure out about the car.
Did you ever find out what it was? My car seems to be doing the exact same thing but the idle isn't changing once i get back from a drive. Only saw it changed once since i set it a few wks ago. Last nite i noticed it had changed. Drove car and it felt good. Started this morning and it went back to missing but I havent checked timing again yet because i drove it to work
 
The easiest way to check a stretched timing chain is to take off all the belts ,Grab the lower pulley and turn it back and forth. You will feel the loose chain by how far the crank rocks back and forth freely .Timing chains stretch especially if the motor is driven hard .You will feel some slack ,but you will know it if it is real loose .