Got back to working on the car after about a month. When I set timing and I advance to about 8 degrees that throttle response is better versus setting it at 0 or 2*. However, even at 8* BTDC there is still lag with quick stabs of the throttle, so I said ok let's try something. If 8* BTDC improves throttle response, lets keeping moving the distributor counter clockwise until I get a proper throttle response. The result, I finally got it to a point where the throttle response is crisp and but for timing, I couldn't even tell you what it's at because the mark is literally at the center of the harmonic balancer. The other issue is that idle is now not settled, slight surge in park and in Drive it surges more. Tried adjusting idle screw but had to open the throttle blades to the point that the idle in park was probably sitting around 900 (guessing by sound, because tach doesn't read right). I am thinking that maybe the distributor is not set to #1 TDC. I tried moving all the plugs over one spot to the left to get the #1 plug wire pointing at #1 cylinder but as I suspected that car won't start. It seems to me the distributor is clocked wrong (I did not set the distributor, it was set that way when I got the car). Any thoughts, before I go and pull the distributor and try to reset it to TDC #1. I included a picture of the current cap orientation and the yellow tape is the #8 wire, which almost lines up with the #1 Cylinder. Yes, the timing was adjusted and set with the Brown wire disconnected.




This is also posted in the TBI section.

update- just confirmed vacuum at the MAP port and the large main port PCV valve at the throttle body, Sits at about 20mmgh but obviously drop a little when it surges. Something to note, when I set the timing at the timing mark to anywhere from 0-8* BTDC, the idle is steady, car starts right up, engine temps stay cooler but throttle response is less than good. When I continue to move the distributor to a point where throttle response is great, idle then surges a little, engine temps get hotter faster and engine start up isn't as fast (not slow or problematic at all just takes a couple cranks).

 

Are we certain that the timing mars actually align with TDC on #1? It's a bit of work to verify that, but in a situation like this, it can be worth the effort.

 

Who cares what the "mark" says?

If it RUNS good, it IS good.

Set it to where it runs the best, and laugh at how goofy the "marks" are. Enjoy the privilege.

 

No, I am not certain. I need to pull the number 1 plug and rotate the motor to tdc and see where the rotor ends up. I am not so concerned with the timing marks not lining up but more so that when I turn the distributor to set the timing to stock settings with the timing light and marks on the balancer, throttle response sucks but it idles fine and stays cooler. When I move the distributor to the point where throttle response is crisp, it doesnt idle steady and engine temps are warmer.

 

Changing the timing shouldn't affect the coolant temp in a meaningful way.

Set the timing to give the most power/response etc...w/o pinging....then figure out your cooling system issue.

I see that's a CFI. For the rougher idle, try adding fuel pressure.