question

[prico1976]

what symtoms would i have if timing is off by a teeth? 1982 3.8 v6

 

[CHRIS.O]

Run like absolute dogshit or not at all. Would have to keep your foot in the throttle to maintain idle if it even ran.

 

[bill]

Run like absolute dogshit or not at all. Would have to keep your foot in the throttle to maintain idle if it even ran.

x2 and I would add that it probably would take a lot of cranking just to get it to start.

 

[prico1976]

ok thank you. so guess is not with the timing when i did the job. i just cant get rid off this pinging when taking off after car gets warm. change the egr but same. i wonder if i need to start using premium gas but the car is supposed to run on regular gas.

 

[bill]

ok thank you. so guess is not with the timing when i did the job. i just cant get rid off this pinging when taking off after car gets warm. change the egr but same. i wonder if i need to start using premium gas but the car is supposed to run on regular gas.

Whats the timing set at? You need to set it when the engine is warm, choke is off, and the vacuum advance is plugged. Should be set at around 10-12 degrees BTC, at idle.

 

[prico1976]

hi bill, i set it at 12 with vaccum advance off then plug it back on.

ok thank you. so guess is not with the timing when i did the job. i just cant get rid off this pinging when taking off after car gets warm. change the egr but same. i wonder if i need to start using premium gas but the car is supposed to run on regular gas.

Whats the timing set at? You need to set it when the engine is warm, choke is off, and the vacuum advance is plugged. Should be set at around 10-12 degrees BTC, at idle.

 

[bill]

hi bill, i set it at 12 with vaccum advance off then plug it back on.

ok thank you. so guess is not with the timing when i did the job. i just cant get rid off this pinging when taking off after car gets warm. change the egr but same. i wonder if i need to start using premium gas but the car is supposed to run on regular gas.

Whats the timing set at? You need to set it when the engine is warm, choke is off, and the vacuum advance is plugged. Should be set at around 10-12 degrees BTC, at idle.

What plugs are you using? How old are they? Id try a higher octane gas...like mid grade...see if it makes a difference.

 

[prico1976]

they are a/c delco and about six months old, but i dont drive my wagon much. when you told me about setting the timming with the vacum advance pluged do you mean i should not disconect the vacum advance to set the timming.

 

[billyjack]

they are a/c delco and about six months old, but i dont drive my wagon much. when you told me about setting the timming with the vacum advance pluged do you mean i should not disconect the vacum advance to set the timming.

No. Disconnect the vacuum line to the advance cannister and plug it so you don't have a vacuum leak from the carb. That will disable the vacuum advance so your timing setting will be determined purely by distributor position.

Bill

 

[565bbchevy]

I had an 81' regal with the Buick 3.8 it ran descent when I got it then at some point my timing jumped and it ran like a beast relatively speaking for 3.8 it would actuallly spin the tires pretty well off the line, none of my friends could believe it was the same engine.
So it lasted a few weeks like that until the timing jumped again and then it ran like crap so I replaced the timing chain and it ran like it did when I got it.
It did always make me wonder where that magic position the cam was in relationship to the crankshaft when it making that extra power.