engine and drivetrain static timing tutorial 101

[esty]

OK dudes....i got my 76 started, the problem was a bad dizzy cap...i got a new one and she fires & starts instantly but runs like crap. the engine shakes & rocks really bad.... i thought it was a vacuum leak and fixed that, which help'd slightly but it's still bad..

i pulled the dizzy and reset all the marks again to make sure the static timing was correct...i changed plug wires, installed a new rotor, points & plugs...all to no avail....when i chang'd these parts, i did them one at a time then started the engine after each install and none of the new parts made any difference one way or the other...

below are pic's of the marks as i set them initally before trying to adjust the timing by turning the distributor....all of these marks are in alignment at the same time..(sorry, i couldn't get a pic of the elusive BB on the flywheel)

rotor/distributor mark...

crank pulley/pointer mark...

cam sprocket mark...

suggestions...thoughts...ideas?

[Guest Anonymous]

OK dudes....i got my 76 started, the problem was a bad dizzy cap...i got a new one and she fires & starts instantly but runs like crap. the engine shakes & rocks really bad.... i thought it was a vacuum leak and fixed that, which help'd slightly but it's still bad..

I like how you marked those lines. much easier to see. Esty, this reminds me of the time I had a 38/38 on my 02 and had not adjusted it properly, did you recently have the carb off the car? You might want to set the carb back to specs (I can dig around for my weber book if you have a weber) and then start tuning from there.. something could be off in that regard. Also, standard stuff: fuel filter is tight and not cracked etc...

Can you rev the engine up? does it smooth out when you do so?

[BillWilliams]

Are the valves on the #1 cylinder in the closed position?

Do you have the correct distributor cap? Some confuse these and think they are all the same, the difference is the location of the indexing slot which affects the location of the metal contacts in the distibutor.

Did you time it to the spec using the BB after you static timed it?

Plugs gapped to spec?

Points at proper dwell?

Condensor measuring correctly?

How about the rotor, new, clean and pressed down completely?

Lubricate the dizzy with a drop or two of oil while you are there, but I am sure you do that regularly.

[esty]

Can you rev the engine up? does it smooth out when you do so?

yes...it does, smooth out when the engine is rev'd...i do have a weber that was taken off to clean and paint the intake but no changes were been made to it in any way....i wouldn't have a clue how to adjust it to spec's even if you drew me a pic....i can adjust the idle and somewhat adjust the mixture by sound but that's my limit on carb adjustments

Bill...i'm certain i have the correct dist cap or at least in every respect, the new one's identical to the old one....point and plugs are gapped according to the book..i wouldn't have a clue about the condensor or how to measure it or the rotor

timing hasn't been set with a light...i don't have a light and would just have someone do that after i get it driveable

[PSloan]

sounds like timing to me. Isnt stock 16 degrees advance, not TDC? Also, make sure its not in gear like i didnt do. LOL

[BillWilliams]

You need to time it

[esty]

You need to time it

i agree & will...but shouldn't i be able to get it close or at least so it isn't shaking & rocking so violently by ear, without a light?

[rho]

Just an observation. I don't know if mechanical advance dizzy's are different but on all my 02's the number one mark was/is usually around 1 to 2 o'clock, where yours is around 6 o'clock.

but again, maybe I've been doing it wrong all along

[esty]

Just an observation. I don't know if mechanical advance dizzy's are different but on all my 02's the number one mark was/is usually around 1 to 2 o'clock, where yours is around 6 o'clock.

but again, maybe I've been doing it wrong all along

are you suggesting that i should set my distributor at 1 to 2 oclock initially, rather than starting where i did...i tried to recall how it was position'd before i removed it but couldn't remember?

i got the positioning from haynes or one of the old service books...albeit they are generic