timing trouble

[lurtch]

Hi all,

I have my new engine installed and have logged some miles on it. Sixty miles into my long test drive, the rotor chaffed through a breaker plate wire and stranded me due to misfiring.  I removed the distributor to get a good fix on it. Now I cannot get it back on the timing target. Right now it will run but only if the timing is set 15 degrees AFTER TDC. Have I engaged the drive keyway one tooth off?  or two teeth off?  I am sure the cam and IP timing is correct because I was cruising at 60 MPH and had good acceleration and normal operating temp.

Larry needs HELP

[ja17]

Hello Larry,

It does not make sense, you must be overlooking something or not reading the timing correctly. I would suggest that you set the static timing (engine not running) first (around 2 BTDC) then take it for a short test drive. Follow up with setting the timing with a timing light.

[wwheeler]

It may help to check the three timing marks on the engine: Crank pulley mark @ 0 (TDC), Distributor rotor at #1 (should be a notch on dist. body) and cam mark on the bearing tower. If all three are perfectly in line at the same time, then the crank, cam and distributor are in time with each other. That would be a good starting point and then you are not second guessing yourself. The IP timing is done differnently and Joe A. has a few posts about how to do that.