Ok well I just fired up my new truck with the new crate engine for the first time. The timing was pretty close because it was running decent, but I can't find the wire to disconnect the EST so I can set it with a light now. Does anyone know where it is on a 97 with the 5.7 Vortec engine?

Also the dash had the SES, ABS, and Brake lights all on. I've heard that on these trucks if there is a lift kit the SES is on all the time....is this true? What could be causing the ABS and Brake lights to be on? The parking brake was off and the fluid is full. I plan on bleeding out the entire system tomorrow, but I don't know if this will fix my problem.

 

PRJ,

A '97 truck doesn't have a "set timing" connector. It has a crank position sensor and cam position sensor under the distributor rotor. The only thing you can do is to correctly phase the CMP with the CKP. If the engine fires right off, the CMP is likely phased correctly, with the optical array being closed just after the CKP is triggered for the #1 cylinder. The CMP only changes state once per camshaft revolution - 180° is OFF, and 180° is ON. As long as the CMP is triggered ON right after the #1 cylinder CKP sensor pulse, the PCM will get the crank and cam position decoded and manage ignition timing accordingly.

You can reprogram the PCM to change timing, but not much else. Don't loosen and turn the distributor unless you want to risk altering the CMP phasing.

 

Vader,
Thanks for the reply, however now I think I have an inherant problem from your answer. The engine is a brand new crate motor and I had to use the distributor from the old engine so it has not only been turned, but removed.
How would I go about insuring that the timing is in fact correct? If there is to be no movement of the distributor how come there is a timing notch in the chain cover and a mark on the balancer? Is there a way to check for the proper phasing of the CMP and CRP?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.