I have a car that sat for years and I've been trying to sort it out. I don't have any history on it except that it was had not ben registered since 2001.
The car idles fairly poorly even above 1000 rpm. The exhaust intermittantly has a faint "pop" noise, mabye a backfire? While driving the car has a slight "bucking" sensation. The timing chain sounds noisey and the timing mark in the transmission hole dances back and forth more than I think it should (nothing to compair it to except non-BMW stuff). Before I buy a new chain/pulleys/guides, I'm hoping to get some feedback from the group. I think that the timing is moving enough to cause the poor idle/bucking symptoms. If it wasn't for the noise in the front of the motor I'd be suspiscous of the distributor. The car runs well enough that I'll drive it 25 miles to work but I know it can run much better.
Here is what I've done so far:
*electric fuel pump installed (mechanical was dead)
*compression is about 130psi but 1 cylinder requires a spoon of oil to achieve this result. I did not do a leak down, yet....
*disassembled & cleaned the Weber 32/38. Set float at 35mm.
*used "best-lean" set-up guide for mixture.
*new plugs, wires, cap, rotor button, capasitor, points
*decarboned engine with some Motorcraft stuff
*new timing tensioner piston
Thanks Guys.........