Timing way off..help.

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Originalowner73 340duster

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My car was running mint...sat few days and is missing// not revving up good almost like only half firein...all plugs getting spark but with inline tester on light is not consant when Rev..can still see it blink/ coil getting good spark.. pick-up is good and correct gap. ..but I'm checking the timing and it's like few inches from where mark is...how could it get so far off and can you even adjust distributor that much??.. or maybe something eles happened to it..any help.sorry if seems dumb..I'm lost .. checked all I could think of..any suggestions would help...I'm lost now...lol
 
It may have jump a tooth on the timing chain.
 
What engine, how many miles on motor, what type of ignition system? You know,the common stuff we always need to help trouble shoot.
 
Timing chains can jump.

Key-ways can shear.

Remove the distributor cap so you can watch the rotor.

Turn the crankshaft bolt back & forth by hand, try both directions.

The rotor should start turning in unison right away.

If not, time to take the front of the engine apart for a look.
 
If you're using a mopar electronic distributor, check the roll pin that holds the reluctor wheel. I've had one slip out and allow the reluctor to move, throwing the timing off.
 
Everything is spinning in sync...has rebuilt late 72 340 I think motor is stock possible can, headers , running thermoquad..stock ignition with crome box..only 20 k on motor..was running fine.. thought if it jumped a tooth I would have heard it..motor idles great..lol
 
Do the basic mechanical check to verify # 1 cylinder TDC. Then check timing mark on balancer. Sounds like more than one problem.
 
Yah..I took out pickup and readjust gap..now I'm not getting spark out of the coil..all wires look good..been messing with this thing for a week ..now it's worse.. frustrated..beer time..
 
Do you have a friend with a small block 318,340,360 with electronic ignition ? Just swap the Box and test, also the distributor. Easy to swap back and forth and can save a lot of time. If your ignition parts are old why not just replace them with new. The parts including the distributor are pretty cheap everywhere.
 
My car was running mint...sat few days and is missing// not revving up good almost like only half firein...all plugs getting spark but with inline tester on light is not consant when Rev..can still see it blink/ coil getting good spark.. pick-up is good and correct gap. ..but I'm checking the timing and it's like few inches from where mark is...how could it get so far off and can you even adjust distributor that much??.. or maybe something eles happened to it..any help.sorry if seems dumb..I'm lost .. checked all I could think of..any suggestions would help...I'm lost now...lol
Factory distributor?

Jake
 
Yes..not useing vacuum advance tho
Ok, I was just curious because I have a pertronix billet unit and the rotor top is mated to the shaft by some sort of rivet, and I had taken it to have my transmission rebuilt on my 63 and they let the engine hit the firewall breaking the cap and loosening the rivet to point where it was moving all over the place, it took 3 stops of adjusting the distributor to figure it out.

Jake
 
Dealership don't have..and keep getting told to go to Westbury..but no answer on phone or email..any one know where to get it on long island??
 
Ok not the ignition module or coil..ballsast has good resistance reading..but I noticed I have up and down movement on my pickup..the plate is tight but is the play on top normal??
 
Ok not the ignition module or coil..ballsast has good resistance reading..but I noticed I have up and down movement on my pickup..the plate is tight but is the play on top normal??

Yep, some up and down play is normal between the lower and upper sections of the shaft.
Just off the top this sounds like a bad ignition box. (if we are ignoring a possible chain jump for the moment)
Disconnect the plug that goes to the distributor and with the ignition on touch the exposed metal bullet on the harness end to the engine block to ground it.
Each time you touch it to ground you should get a good spark.
 
Yep, some up and down play is normal between the lower and upper sections of the shaft.
Just off the top this sounds like a bad ignition box. (if we are ignoring a possible chain jump for the moment)
Disconnect the plug that goes to the distributor and with the ignition on touch the exposed metal bullet on the harness end to the engine block to ground it.
Each time you touch it to ground you should get a good spark.
I only get a tiny spark every so often..not consistent at all when I jump at coil wire..car is having hard time starting now also and I tried swapping ignition module,coil..no change
 
I only get a tiny spark every so often..not consistent at all when I jump at coil wire..car is having hard time starting now also and I tried swapping ignition module,coil..no change

A new distributor pickup is cheap enough.
(you did say you checked everything else) and that when you took it out to adjust it you didn't have spark.
 
Also if the chain jumped wouldn't I have herd something..and got problem while driving..was fine when I shut off then boom .lol

Most of the time a chain jumps it is on shutdown and you won't hear anything.
Then the next time you go to start it is when most find out.

Make sure you rotor is on good and solid and check for slack in the chain by turning the motor back and forth a little as was suggested above.
 
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