69Sting

I have developed an issue with my timing advancing itself.
About every 750 - 1,000 miles I have to set the timing. I set it at 4 advance at 650rpm. after a while it self advances to 8 advance at 650 thus when I get to 4,000 rpm I am too advanced and the motor is not running right.

I am thinking the clamp that holds the Distributer in place is week, but I was told that they don't go bad. Could there be another issue here.
:cheers:

Fevre

Was your heads, intake or block milled? Might be your dist is not fully seating on the mating surface adn needs a shim. :confused: Might try scribing or marking the dist and intake to see if it moves at all. Might also pull the dist and see if somehow the gear is rotating.

mvftw

How about the balancer. Can't a worn balancer cause the timing to move?

69Sting

I just picked up a new Distributer clamp, or holder thing (tech term). Only problem is they only had it in chrome and I was going for a chrome free car. But for $5 can't complain.

If this does not fix it I will look into the other items. Also I just remembered the previous owner said he had the distributor out one time and feels he may have put it in 1 tooth off. is this possible and how do I check?

1979toy

You've created and identified your problem. The chrome clamp will let the dist. move, you can not tighten it enough to keep it from moving. Pick yourself up a stock clamp from the junkyard and be chrome-free again.


[Modified by 1979toy, 1:18 PM 8/21/2003]

LiveandLetDrive

Putting it one tooth off would only mean you have to turn it really far to get it set correctly (ie. almost running out of room to turn) I think the shim idea sounds most promising, I'm sure you've made sure to tighten the retainer bolt down very well? Come to think of it... you might want to check if there's a gasket installed, easy to forget and would be just like putting in a shim.

-Chris

Fevre

No, it would give the appearence of the timing moving but the actual timing would stay the same. When the balancer 'slips' the outer ring of the balancer is the only thing that moves and that is where the timing marks are.