How can you tell if your timing is out? I don't know if the PO had replaced the timing chain or taken the distributor out. Is there some kind of test or device that tells you if the timing is out of whack?

 

I know who's going to reply to this with a good answer: TomP. So do a search using his name on the topic. Basically you need to find TDC of piston #1. You'd do this by stuffing a rag in the spark plug hole of piston #1 and cranking the motor by hand; when the rag pops out, you should be close to TDC. Anyways, this isn't a very good explanation, you'd be better off doing a search.

edit: Try this one https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=231128

 

Assume you did not have the chain replaced.
Here's how to tell
And it's easy.
Find a 17mm socket & ratchet set up or breaker bar.
Pop off distributor cap.
NOTICE THE ROTOR POSITION
NOW
BY USING THE RATCHET/BREAKER BAR & 17MM SOCKET
turn over the engine
KEEP AN EYE ON THE ROTOR!
NOTICE HOW LONG IT TAKES TO MOVE THE ROTOR
IF IT TAKES OVER ONE INCH OF BALANCER MOVEMENT TO MOVE THE ROTOR
You need a new chain!
TO DOUBLE CHECK YOUR GUESSTIMATE!
Rotate engine other way.
PS DON'T DO THIS SO HARD (on breaker bar) to undo the balancer bolt!
A little bit of movement is all it takes to tell if ya need new chain.
This is very good time to redo the whole tming system
Including rebuild the distributor, too.
To the mix of a new chain, a new tensioner, add new water pump, hoses and also add balancer snout repair ($4) sleeve (which takes away the grove worn on the balancer and eliminates any leakage at that balancer).
Yeah it's a bit of a shopping list, but in the end your car performs better & also runs cooler & also get better milage. It's a total win-win project.
PS Other simple way to tell is take a timing light to your ride and watch the mark for timing. IF timing mark JUMPS ALOT, you need replace chain, too.

 

I've always wondered what "a lot" is. Mine fluctuates a half a degree to maybe a degree. Is that a lot?

 

I hear ya
I'd say simply try the breaker bar & 17MM bolt test & see what that tells ya at the rotor!
The breaker bar test is a sure fire way to tell IF ya need replace chain.
Seriously IF your engine has over 75,000 miles on it, assume to change it!

 

My timing chain's being replace this summer regardless. I was just curious.

 

The MOST important thing I can tell ya about the chain replacement is
WHEN YOU REMOVE THE TIMING COVER
LOOK AT THE OLD CHAIN
PLACEMENT OF THE OLD CHAIN MUST MUST MUST BE ALWAYS LEFT AT DOT TO DOT. You will see this mark on the old chain.
You will see this mark on the new chain.
Replace the old chain with new chain at his EXACT same mark and postion and DO NOT LET ANYONE TURN OVER THE MOTOR WHILE YOU ARE DOING THIS PART.
OR ELSE you will have to do a bit of work to get your engine back to this point (dot to dot valves & crank in synchronation).
This one detail makes this project very easy.