Finally got to setting my timing, but it is WAYYY off - here is a (somewhat) diagram of what the timing mark/tab looks like if you are facing at the front of the engine


(timing mark) _
| /\/\/\/ \
|
|

I may be wrong, but the timing needs to be adjusted (advanced) correct? I can only adjust the timing a little bit, so how do i advance the timing even further?

Of course I could be wrong, and it needs to be retarded, but I am pretty sure that this is correct

thanks!

 

Not trying to sound like an *** here: have you loosened off the distributor bolt yet? Sounds like maybe you're turning the distributor and the bolt is a bit loose but that it's not loose enough to make major adjustments...?

 

ok, i guess i was completely bass ackwards, and my timing needs to be severely retarded (it is much too advanced)

here is a pic of what my timing mark looks like, again, if you are looking at teh front of the engine

anyway, i turn the distributor clockwise and the timing mark moves more to the right, towards teh timing tab, and if i turn the distributor counter-clockwise, it moves away

correct me if i am wrong, but if the mark is whre mine is, it is much too much advanced correct? i cant adjsut the distributor anymore, because it obviously hits the coil (remote coil) and pulls on the 4-pin connector to the ECM and the connector to the coil, so its not like i can constantly turn the distributor clockwise

how can i adjust my timing even more?

i hate this engine, it is so retarded - actually, i guess its too advanced

hahaha, bad joke - but please help!

 

Hmm maybe the distributor was pulled before and it didn't go back in the same way. On my car the module connections are facing the back so there's no way they would hit the coil.

 

ok, well lets assume i just started from scratch all over again - how would i reset the timing to base timing? i thot you pulled the distributor, hand-cranked it until the timing mark was at 0 degrees, then drop the distributor in with the rotor POINTING between the #1 and #8 wires (which would mean the metal part of the rotor is facing directly forward of the car)

then fine-tune the timing as normal

is this correct, because i really want to get this timing issue resolved so i can start driving again!

 

#1 could be at TDC but the rotor could be pointing anywhere on the cap. Take the timing mark to 0 and see where the rotor points to on the cap. Whatever terminal that is, is where your #1 plug wire should be. Then disconnect the EST bypass and set your timing from there.

 

so crank the car to 0 degrees by hand, check where the rotor is, and set the number 1 plug wire to that place, yet still following the firing order from thereafter?

thanks!!!!

 

Yes. 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2,,,clockwise.

 

haha, yea, i've had the number 18436572 in my head for the last 2 weeks

however, my final question before i go try this is that whenever i do work on the rotor, it usually looks like it points between two terminals on the cap, rather than be on one or the other - for example, when i first reset the timing, i could only get the rotor to point between 1 and 8, rather than point to one or the other

anyway, thanks a lot for all of your help!

 

if something is blocking your distributor from rotating more, ie. running out of slack in the connector wires, then just move all the plug wires over one terminal. this will knock your timing out of wack, however, and you will need to reset it. according to your pick you're way advanced right now, like 18°BTDC. on a stock engine you're supposed to be at 0 or 6°, depending on the engine, i'm not sure which it is for an lo3