I have a 1985 forerunner that I recently completed a head gasket replacement on. I think I didn't need to do it but I did anyway. Long story short, I had a coolant leak right at the joint of the head and block. I am thinking now that it was the water pump that wasn't working.

After putting everything back together I had some problems with things not hooked up (vacuum, electrical) but now have everything hooked up (I think!!!) I can't seem to get the timing correct, hence it doesn't run quite right. I can earball the timing and get the engine running ok but it used to run a lot better. My question...The timing seems to be off by one tooth on the timing chain. What I mean by that is it seems to run best when the indicator is at about 20-25 degrees TDC. Could the cause of my worries be that the timing chain is off by one tooth? Or is there something else I should be looking at...vacuum advance? electrical? I'm at my wits end.

Lucas

 

Lucas, you should definitely correct the cam timing as well as the distributor timing.. 20-25 BTDC is way off..

Start with the engine at TDC, showing 0 degrees on the timing mark.
Cam dowl should approximately be at 11-12 o'clock. If it's not, correct it..

Set the distributor in so that at with the crank at 0 BTDC, the arm is just slightly past firing the #1 cylinder...

Note, make sure you've got your vac advance pulled and are under 900 rpm for checking timing.

 

i did the same thing on my rebuild somehow. i just pulled the valve cover, pulled the cam sprocket bolt, put a long pry bar or flat screwdriver down inside the timing cover passenger side and carefully depress the tensioner to give you slack to pull the cam sprocket off the cam then spin the sprocket in the appropriate direction one tooth and put it back on. you really need extra hands to do the job, but it's no big deal.

 

HOW does the engine run if your cam is off by a tooth, say retarded? Its it just W E A K ??

 

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116/22re-timing-idle-issue-104627/

Rob

 

I may have the same problem, truck runs fine but at 55 it makes pinging that i cant make go away with any timing. I've changed the plugs and fuel filter but nothing seems to work execpt super unleaded makes it half as bad. Please someone help me! that sound is driving me crazy.

 

Hey Westport, sounds like you might have to either change your timing or your octane selector. I haven't studied up on the octane selector but that with a combination of timing might do it. How does it run at idle?

 

Didn`t want to start a new thread;so I used this one.I think I may have done this same thing when putting my motor back together.Where should the timing mark on the cam spocket be when the motor is at TDC?Mine seems to be a little to the right side of the 12`o clock position.

I took a pic,don`t know how well you can see it.Let me know if it looks off.Thanks......Rayme

 

If I remember correctly, it should be at 11 or 12 o'clock. I'm not sure if the little bit you are off will affect it significantly or not.

Rob