WYrider

So I had a head gasket go out on my 87 22R pickup. replaced the head gasket. Went to set timing and I could only get to about .020 btdc. thats as close as I can get. The truck runs fine does not sputter or anything once is warmed up. But it is low on power. Not teribly low but I can tell at higher speeds. I pulled the distributer out a few times reajusted it to the next teeth on both sides but truck would not even fire then. (I tried 180 out as well). I wouldnt think the engine would run as good as it does if the chain is a tooth off. So i'm not sure where to look next. Any thoughts?

Bingle

.020 btdc? is that 2° or 20°? if you measured .020°, wow, don't even know how you measure it that tight. just playin with ya.

Assuming you ment 2° (degree sign-hold alt key, type 248) and that's as advanced as you can get, you are off a tooth on the dizzy. Make a mark on the outside of the dizzy (distributor) at the centerline of the #1 spark plug on the cap. reinstall dizzy so that the rotor is just clockwise of that mark with #1 at TDC compression stroke (you can check by the rocker arms, both for #1 should be loose) and you can still adjust the timing both ways. Now you should be on the right tooth. If you still can't get it to fire, have someone crank it while you set the timing (or get it close enough to run on it's own). Good luck.

WYrider

Sorry I ment 20 degs, BTDC. Like I said, I have Pulled the distributer out and installed it clockwise one tooth and counter clockwise one tooth. I was not able to get the truck to start with either settings. I had to go back to the one I was at for it to start.

Bingle

Ok, so you're at 20° and you're turned counter clock wise as far as you can with the dizzy, right? Vac advance unhooked, right? If both of those statements are true, you are off a tooth or your vac advance is stuck at full advance (or something similar). falling flat on it's face at higher rpm's tends to indicate it's not advancing enough. With cap off, check that the "arm" from the vac advance is not stuck. If it seems fine, check the springs and weights in the "guts" of the dizzy. If the vac advance is stuck or not functioning properly (check that it advances timing when you rev up) LC Engineering sells replacement ones for pretty cheap. The more info I get from you, the better I can help diagnose the problem.

VANCE164

iTrader: (1)

should be at 10° BTDC shouldn't it?

snobdds

On a 22r, the dizzy needs to be inserted when the engine is at TDC on the compression stroke. The hold down bolt will be dead center of the adjustment range.

Make sure the crank timing is correct first, and then set the ignition timing.

Or bring it to Cheyenne and I will set it for you in 2 minutes...

Edit: To clairify, The degree's to set base timing to are as followes

22r = 0* or TDC
22re = 5* BTDC
3VZ = 10* BTDC

slow-mo

Here's a couple 'tube videos of timing & installing the distributor, hope it helps you.