What got me to today.

Started off with a p0300 code. Did the usual stuff but also noticed the distributor bolt holes for the cap were in less than good shape being plastic and all. So I replaced the distributor which as you know there is no adjustment so you have to stick it perfectly. I spent over an hour and eventually just had to go with the best I could get. Since it was clearly off by a couple degrees I'm guessing the timing chain has jumped a tooth. So I just got the cover off and it would appear that some jack wagon has been in there before. The crank arrow is pointing up but so is the cam arrow. Every timing chain I've done they point at each other. So I'm at a loss here. Any advice on what steps to take are appreciated.

 

You do your final distr position set with Cam Retard after you either elongate the hold down clamp flange or replace it.

Gears, chains and sprockets:








George

 

Video link address:




George

 

I understand how to install a timing chain. My issue is that the cams arrow is at the 12 o'clock position when it should be at 6 o'clock and yes I've double checked that I'm at tdc compression stroke. I'm not sure if I should rotate the cam or not. It was running prior so I guess I could leave it. The chain is really loose. I can almost take it off the sprocket by hand.

 

Turn the engine one revolution. The marks will point at each other.

The crankshaft makes two revolutions for every revolution of the cam.

 

Wouldn't I then be at tdc exhaust stroke?

 

If it's at TDC on the intake stroke now, then yes. But the marks on the gears are only for installing the camshaft, not the distributor. For what you're doing, they are irrelevant. You just need to make sure the crankshaft is set to #1 TDC on the compression stroke.

 

The distributor is in. I'm replacing the chain. The arrows should point to each other at tdc compression. They aren't. I'm trying to figure out if I should spin the camshaft so that they do. If I end up having to re stab the dizzy I will but for now I can't decide what to do with the camshaft. I took the valve cover off so I could watch the valves open and close. Unfortunately my brain is refusing to work through this problem.

 

Leave the distributor the way it is. Turn the whole engine one full turn (with timing chain installed) until the marks are pointing at each other. Install the new timing chain. As long as the distributor was installed properly to begin with, it won't change.

If it makes you feel better to rotate the cam instead of the whole engine, you can do that. It makes no difference. The only difference between TDC on the compression stroke and TDC on the exhaust stroke is the position of the cam. With the mark pointing up, it's one. Mark pointing down is the other. I don't know off the top of my head which is which.

 

What Tom said. I would not leave a timing chain that’s loose enough to pull off the sprockets unaddressed, that needs to be repaired. After you have the front of the engine put back together setting the distributor correctly is easy enough.


George