dark scorpion

iTrader: (2)

Hello all,

I finally got the chance to try some of the suggestions posted
elsewhere on the board as far as pulling the #1 plug for
compression feel etc. Needless to say the car didn't start still but
I have another question.
On the dampener, there is a groove that is on there (I have
not timing marks as they "famously" have been taken off by
sludge and dirt). Do I use this groove to line up with the 0*
mark for TDC???????


Getting there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (hopefully soon)

kevinc

Yup, the groove is your marker.

Be aware it will align w/ the 0 mark twice, once for #1 cyl at TDC firing and again for #1 cyl at TDC exhaust stroke...make sure you get the right one.

dark scorpion

iTrader: (2)

COOL, THANKS!!!!!!!!

Once Dennis gets out of here I can retry it

Vader

Dennis is just chasing Cindy. He won't be there long. She's such a tease...

Good luck weathering the storm.

ajbutowicz

How do you know which stroke your on?

dark scorpion

iTrader: (2)

I am not sure. But since the car didn't start, I am guessing that
I was on the exhaust stroke.

I will make a go at it again tomorrow.

kevinc

It can fail to start just by being a few degrees off also, don't pull the dist just yet.

Whip out your timing light and shoot it while a helper cranks the engine, same as you would if the engine was running. That will tell the story.

dark scorpion

iTrader: (2)

Will do

dark scorpion

iTrader: (2)

I finally got the chance to try to set my timing. I had a buddy sit
in the car and "bump" the key while I held my finger over the
#1 spark plug hole to feel compression. I felt compression on a
couple of strokes. On one stroke, I felt a little but on another, I
the compression blew my finger out of the way. Is the stroke
with the stronger compression the one I should set my initial
timimg to????????????
Also, there is a mushroom looking item (without the dome), in
my engine compartment with some hoses going to it. Can
someone tell me what this item is and where the hoses go to?
There is a pretty thick hose coming out of it that is going
absolutely nowhere else on the engine.
I know that I appear to not know much about my car, but the
person whom had it before me is a total IDIOT!!! At least I
ask questions. I don't go randomly splicing wires, and cutting
hoses off and such. GEEZ!!!!


PS The car does start a little bit now. It doesn't stay running
for long but at least it starts.

kevinc

The stroke w/ the big compression is the one you want.

Get there, bring the crank marker to TDC, then pull your dist cap and ensure the rotor is aimed at the #1 plug wire. (and not at #6 plug wire) I generally use a breaker bar and socket on the balancer bolt to manually turn the crank, gently so as not to spin the bolt and overtighten it.

The mushroom thing sounds like your AIR system, blows air into the exhaust stream to help light off the catalytic converter.

dark scorpion

iTrader: (2)

I tried to turn it manually but the balancer didn't move (as far as
I could see), so I will have to have a friend "bump" the engine
for me again.
So no matter where the mark on the balancer is when I feel it
with the most compression, that's where I leave it and set the
dizzy to the number one plug???????
Does it matter if the mark is not at 0* or if it is at the factory
setting of 6*?
Just in case the setting is not on one of these, I need to get a
breaker bar and a socket and put it on the bolt in the center
of the balancer and rotate it until it is at 0* right? Do I need to
take off the serpentine belt to do this?

kevinc

Just put the balancer mark at zero, aim the rotor as close as you can get to the #1 plug tower...be sure to account for the twist of the cam/dist gears as you drop the dist into place...and then use your timing light to dial it onto the money.