Engine Miss.. rounded lobes?

[MrSony]

Just wondering when you broke in the cam how did you set the timing?

before I put the engine in the car, I brought #1 upto tdc on compression, looked at the mark on the balancer (TA Balancer I used has factory timing marks, as does my timing cover), rotated it by hand to 12btdc on the balancer/timing cover, and dropped the dizzy in with the rotor pointing to #1 and put the plug wires on accordingly and it popped off and once it got stable, I turned the idle up to 2500rpm, then down to 2000 20 minutes later, then down to 1500 20 minutes later, then upto 2500 again for another 20.

Your dad doesn't have a timing light?

Unfortunately know. He's into cars as well, but not to the point of engine building and diagnosing, etc. He mainly does cosmetic stuff like wheels, tires, suspension, stereos. He's been wanting to paint stuff as well this summer.

 

[MrSony]

no wonder your timing was off.....

buy yourself a timing gun, they aren't expensive

100+ bucks is pretty expensive. Especially since I don't have a job. The majority of the way I make my money is flipping stuff on CL.

 

[Bar50]

Hmmm.... $25 shipped or less new online for a new timing light....

Melted valves and pistons....priceless?


Compression gauge set, $20 or less.

Vacuum & pressure gauge set $20 or less.

One tune up and the amount of gas you have been wasting will pay for the tools.


Or....spend way more on failures caused from not using tools.


What is up with not having a job? Is that a Millennial deal?

 

[Injectedcutty]

100+ bucks is pretty expensive. Especially since I don't have a job. The majority of the way I make my money is flipping stuff on CL.

You can get a decent, accurate light for less than that. Yeah sure the tool guys have the "best"....but no joke my light is from harbor freight. I normally don't buy anything but air and hand tools fom there but was in a pinch. I think it was $30ish and it's dead accurate.
We have tested against my dad's snap on timing light(he is a 44 year veteran diesel mechanic and still buys new tools all the time) and the harbor freight light was reading the same as his snap on.

 

[Bar50]

No, I meant any timing light is better than none, same with a compression gauge and vacuum gauge. Or used from a pawn shop.

 

[MrSony]

Hmmm.... $25 shipped or less new online for a new timing light....

Melted valves and pistons....priceless?


Compression gauge set, $20 or less.

Vacuum & pressure gauge set $20 or less.

One tune up and the amount of gas you have been wasting will pay for the tools.


Or....spend way more on failures caused from not using tools.


What is up with not having a job? Is that a Millennial deal?

I've been trying to get a job since I had to quit my last one for medical reasons in May. I've applied to over 50 places ranging from auto parts stores to fast food to mom and pop stores. Every one has ended in an interview, and then getting an email a day latter telling me to screw off. And before you ask, I always shower before the interviews, clean cut, nice clothes, respectful demeanor, etc. It took me a year of searching to get the first job I had. I just don't have good luck with getting jobs. Meanwhile looser tweakers I am unfortunately familiar with gets jobs left and right. It's a shame. And what timing lights are you talking about that measure advance as well as base timing that are under 100 dolllars?

 

[Bar50]

Just set it with the advance all in. Like at the 2500 or 2800 RPM.

With vacuum advance unhooked.

Or Craigslist up a uses good one, or find one at a pawn shop...or online auction.

 

[Injectedcutty]

No, I meant any timing light is better than none, same with a compression gauge and vacuum gauge. Or used from a pawn shop.

Yeah yeah, i knew what you meant man. Just telling him that those tools can be had for little $$$. My dad has always preached about having the right tools for the job....but heck he's had 4+ decades to collect, only 17 or 18 for me lol! So much so all of his tools at work are insured.

 

[pontiacgp]

if you have no timing light or vacuum gauge you can set the timing by advancing it until you get engine ping and then back the timing off a bit

 

[MrSony]

if you have no timing light or vacuum gauge you can set the timing by advancing it until you get engine ping and then back the timing off a bit

That's how I have it adjusted now.