Hey guys I bought a non running 89 s15 jimmy with the 4.3 in it. First look seemed like it wouldn't be hard to get running but the timing is bad off and I think once its good it will be fine. Truck only has 130,000 on it so I don't think distributor shaft wear would have any play in it. Got a new coil cap and button and plug wires. I pulled the plugs on it and they were sooty looking on the ends other than that they seem to be fine. I tried to time it yesterday but I saw the little timing gauge near the crank but other than that all I'm seeing is 2 cutout marks on the pulley itself. Are these what I time it off of. Also I haven't really seen a clear pic of we're the number 1 cylinder is on the distributor cap. I assumed it would be the front right spot on the cap since that's were the button was pointing when I thought I found the compression stroke for number 1. But as I spun it around I saw the second mark. This is my first 4.3 I've ever tried to time. And now it seems as if its is "coughing" back through the intake. Ay help would greatly be appreciated. I'm about to pull what little hair I have left out!!

 

Did you unplug the computer bypass? If not you didnt do anything for it. Its under the carpet on passenger side,up above where your feet would be. lil single tan wire with a black connector. Unplug it,start the truck.adjust it to 0* and then turn it off. plug that connector back in,and whalla.

 

I didn't unplug any wires other than the sparkplug wires. I'll try that computer wire once it stops raining.. I new there had to be some trick to it. Also why are there 2 marks on the crank gear? I've always saw 1 mark with a degree variance on both sides of it.

 

unplug the brown wire under the dash, its the only wire with a connector in the middle of itself. Time it to 0 degrees, it should be the mark furthest right (and i belive the biggest). Be careful because the harmonic balance ring could have shifted and the mark may not be accurate.

 

for a easy view,cover the mark in some white out. Oh,for best results,do it once the engines running at the normal idle. when its warm.

 

White paint on the timing mark for the damper helps the mark stand out when timing. I also like to connect a vacuum gage and a tachometer. I first set the timing to "0" degrees than adjust the vacuum advance to achieve the highest vacuum reading and the best idle I can get. I have the distributer hold down bolt a little snug so I can turn it but it will stay in place until I can tighten the bolt securely. I use a shop rag to insulate myself from spark while rotating the distributer. Once the hold down bolt is tight I will check the timing again to make sure nothing had moved.

 

Thanks for all the advice. When referring to the mark and putting white out on it. Is it the first or second mark that you see while spinning the pulley around.. Also I am still trying to find the timing close enough to actually get it to start. Then I can fine tune with the timing light