HSR + Timing Problems
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 54
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From: Pittsfield, MA
Car: 1989 Firebird Formula
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700R4
HSR + Timing Problems
First off, sorry this post is going to be long but I just want to explain the problem as clear as possible, thanks. I just finished my HSR install and when I went to start it up it wouldn't start. I could here that the timing was way off. So I went through the method of a finger in the #1 spark plug hole and bumping the engine until I felt the air come out. My timing mark on the balancer was no where near zero. So I manually turned the motor with a wrench on the crank pulley. I took the distributer cap off and the rotor was way off. So I rotated the distributor until the rotor wa pointing at #1. Then the car started right up but you could here the timing was still off because it was backfiring through the intake when you gave it a good amount of gas. So a buddy of mine set the timing with his light to 6* with the wire disconnected and it still backfired through the intake. So he just moved the distributor until it stoped and then put the light on it and it read 20* advanced. I took it for a ride and the car was idling high and surging and it was also kinda stumbling when I was just cruising at about 2000 RPM. My buddy said it had too much timing, so I backed the timing down a little and it helped some but it still isn't right. My buddy said that it could be reading off with the light because my dampener may have slipped. But not too long ago I put a new distributor in and set the timing to 6* and everything was fine. Does anyone know if it sounds like my dampener slipped or is there a reason for the backfiring through the intake when I set it to 6*. Sorry for such a long post any help is much appreciated. Thanks.
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 12,088
Likes: 125
From: SALEM, NH
Car: '88 Formula
Engine: LC9
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.89 9"
Re: HSR + Timing Problems
Originally posted by 89formula350tpi
First off, sorry this post is going to be long but I just want to explain the problem as clear as possible, thanks. I just finished my HSR install and when I went to start it up it wouldn't start. I could here that the timing was way off. So I went through the method of a finger in the #1 spark plug hole and bumping the engine until I felt the air come out. My timing mark on the balancer was no where near zero. So I manually turned the motor with a wrench on the crank pulley. I took the distributer cap off and the rotor was way off. So I rotated the distributor until the rotor wa pointing at #1. Then the car started right up but you could here the timing was still off because it was backfiring through the intake when you gave it a good amount of gas. So a buddy of mine set the timing with his light to 6* with the wire disconnected and it still backfired through the intake. So he just moved the distributor until it stoped and then put the light on it and it read 20* advanced. I took it for a ride and the car was idling high and surging and it was also kinda stumbling when I was just cruising at about 2000 RPM. My buddy said it had too much timing, so I backed the timing down a little and it helped some but it still isn't right. My buddy said that it could be reading off with the light because my dampener may have slipped. But not too long ago I put a new distributor in and set the timing to 6* and everything was fine. Does anyone know if it sounds like my dampener slipped or is there a reason for the backfiring through the intake when I set it to 6*. Sorry for such a long post any help is much appreciated. Thanks.
First off, sorry this post is going to be long but I just want to explain the problem as clear as possible, thanks. I just finished my HSR install and when I went to start it up it wouldn't start. I could here that the timing was way off. So I went through the method of a finger in the #1 spark plug hole and bumping the engine until I felt the air come out. My timing mark on the balancer was no where near zero. So I manually turned the motor with a wrench on the crank pulley. I took the distributer cap off and the rotor was way off. So I rotated the distributor until the rotor wa pointing at #1. Then the car started right up but you could here the timing was still off because it was backfiring through the intake when you gave it a good amount of gas. So a buddy of mine set the timing with his light to 6* with the wire disconnected and it still backfired through the intake. So he just moved the distributor until it stoped and then put the light on it and it read 20* advanced. I took it for a ride and the car was idling high and surging and it was also kinda stumbling when I was just cruising at about 2000 RPM. My buddy said it had too much timing, so I backed the timing down a little and it helped some but it still isn't right. My buddy said that it could be reading off with the light because my dampener may have slipped. But not too long ago I put a new distributor in and set the timing to 6* and everything was fine. Does anyone know if it sounds like my dampener slipped or is there a reason for the backfiring through the intake when I set it to 6*. Sorry for such a long post any help is much appreciated. Thanks.
If you wanna double check your damper, get a piston stop tool and find TDC again and see if the line is on zero. If its not, buy a fluid damper (either from fluid dampr, or CAT on ebay, both are just fine).
-- Joe
Supreme Member

Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,347
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From: Connecticut
Car: 86 IROC w/Danko bodykit, 1988 iroc vert, 1989 k1500 pickup 6" lift and 35" tires, 2002 chevy tahoe z71
Engine: 383 stealth ram, 305 tpi, 350 tbi, 5.3l
Transmission: T56, 700r4, 700r4, 4l460
not for nothing but you may want to check the tps. i had a similar problem with mine poping thru the intake about 3000 rpm with timing set a 6*. i adjusted the tps and the poping went away but it still falls flat at 3000. i am going to start some datalogging now.
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