distributor installation trouble

[crm318]

i am reinstalling the distibutor in my truck and i cant seem to get the timing mark to reach the timing tab. i have done this a million times on this exact truck (the timing chain cover is correct). i have taken it out and set it to TDC 0 and reinstalled it and everytime is the same. i can get the engine running and when i put tht timing light on it, it is under the water pump each time reguardless of how i turn the distributor. the vacuum advance is pluged and everything seems to be in order. its driveable, but not tuned at all. what can i do?

[chipflyer]

I would say its idling to fast and your mechanical advance is kicking in. Set your idle lower and see if that makes a difference.

Jeff

[Bob 68327]

Possible that the outer ring on your balancer has slipped . If so new balancer time . my 2 cents worth

[mr48chev]

You may be a tooth of with the distributor which wouldn't allow enough room to turn the housing (interference between vacuum advance and manifold).

Also, you do have the vacuum hose disconnected and plugged?

Bob 68327 posted when i was writing and that is another thing to check. make sure the #1 is exactly at top dead center and see if the mark lines up at 0.

[crm318]

each time i reinstalled the distributor, i put it in a new position (its in a position now where i can spin it all the way around). i dont think that the balancer hasnt slipped since i took the distributor out.

[dwcsr]

maybe you knocked a weight springs off under the rotor and it goes to full advance way to soon

[don t. - 72gmc]

Is your timing light on the #1 plug?

HTH.....don t. .....

[68gmsee]

The way I always check mine...

I disconect the distributor to coil wire and take the sparkplug out of the #1 piston (for easier turning, I sometimes take them all out).

Then with help or with a breaker bar on the crankshaft pulley I turn the engine until I start to feel compression on my finger. Some people plug the hole with a rag. I just use my finger.

When I start to feel compression, I know that I'm on the compression stroke and I insert a long thin screwdriver and feel the piston until it reaches TDC.

Then I look at the timing mark - should also be TDC- and the distributor to make sure everything is lined up correctly. If it is, then there's something else moving that is causing the problem.

Good luck..

[Sinisterspeed]

Originally Posted by crm318

the vacuum advance is pluged and everything seems to be in order. its driveable, but not tuned at all. what can i do?

If I am understanding this right you said the vacuum advance is plugged. in?

Might be me just not understanding you correctly. It would explain your trouble if it is plugged into the distributor. I should be unplugged while checking timing.

[HomerJ]

Does your timing light have a dial-back knob? Could be that the knob is just mis-adjusted....

HomerJ

[crm318]

i have the advance hose plugged and off the distributor. and yes, the timing light is on the number 1 cylinder. the timing light doesnt have the dial on the back. its just a basic one.

[68gmsee]

[QUOTE=crm318;2762755]i have the advance hose plugged and off the distributor.....QUOTE]

Just to make sure--- once more

The plug should be on the vacuum line from the carb that goes to the distributor. I'm sure it's what you mean, but some new guys may think that you need to plug the hose coming from the vacuum advance.

Anyway, if all the checks indicate that that your distributor, balancer, chain and sprockets are all lined up and in good conditon and your timing mark is way off when it runs, then there's something loose or worn in the distributor..

Let us know what you find...

[piecesparts]

What did you do to the distributor? Why was it pulled out of the engine? That might explain the problem you are experieincing. Was the timing right before you started in the first place??????

Start at ground zero again and go about this in a deliberate way

1. pull dizzy once again
2. pull plugs and verify that at TDC on #1 cylinder
3. verify dizzy is not hanging up on the advance mechanism inside it and weights are moving freely.
4. re-install dizzy at #1 post indication
5. start engine and set timing (With the vacuum hose disconnected--I plug mine on the carb centerbolt)
6. does timing stay in one spot or does it seem to move around as the engine runs?

[chipflyer]

Did you check the idle speed and your mechanical advance springs as dwcsr said?

Jeff

[crm318]

the hose is plugged at the carb, not the advance. i have done this a few times. this is the only time this has happend. i have a new distributor that i have been swapping in between vehicles (every few months). i put the old distributor back on. i will check it thouroughly and and get back to yall.

[truckdude239]

make sure your not a plug wire off if your a wire off ont he cap it will do the same thing

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by crm318

i have the advance hose plugged and off the distributor.

Yep, I figured you had. Read some of your posts before. Just wanted to clarify for some of the readers that may not be familiar with vacuum advance distributors.

I read a post in another forum where a guy said he had the vacuum advance hose plugged and still couldn't adjust the timing properly. He had plugged the hose on the vacuum advance side.

[LONGHAIR]

This is a common wording issue, regarding the differnce between "plugged" and "plugged-in"

[crm318]

im away from home for a day or two so i will let yall know know when i get back to it. the thing is, reguardless of where i turn the distributor, it will not run correctly. i think that the installation is not it and maybe the distributor itself.

[crm318]

well i dropped in a newish distributor and im having the same exact problems. everything in the new dist. is free moving and fully functional. i even moved the plug wires around (in correct order still). i cant figure it out for the life of me.

[1970 CST Short Wide]

Just out of left field , did this thing back fire at any time while trying it the 1st time??
If so maybe it jumped time.

[scrapmetalart]

Originally Posted by 1970 CST Short Wide

Just out of left field , did this thing back fire at any time while trying it the 1st time??
If so maybe it jumped time.

explain "jumped time"????

[Bishops Trucks]

Originally Posted by scrapmetalart

explain "jumped time"????

Jumped timing means that you have slack in the timing chain and now the 2 marks on the timing gears do not line up as they are supposed to. That could happen from worn gears and/or timing chain.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by Bishops Trucks

Jumped timing means that you have slack in the timing chain and now the 2 marks on the timing gears do not line up as they are supposed to. That could happen from worn gears and/or timing chain.

And if that does happen, the cam timing is off, retarded as much as the ignition timing. Generally when this happens, it will not start. You wouldn't really want it to anyway. It is time for major surgery.