I have an 84 4Runner that i just bought, and im trying to fix 23 years of abuse. Im having trouble with the timing i think ?. if you turn the distributor clockwise is that retarding the timing ?, i have the distributor turned all the way clockwise and it makes very little difference, so im thinking the timing chain is shot and needs to be replaced. another thing, when i rev the engine it smokes a bit, so would it be bad valve stem seals that cause this ?, it doesn`t smoke when its idleing only when the engine is reved up. are the valve stem seals something that i can replace with out any special tools, or is this something a machine shop has to do ?.

 

was the chain replaced some times it can be off a tooth also if the distributer was not placed in the right spot with TDC that can affect the timing

heres a link for shop manuals
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...umbers-102344/

 

The guy i got the 4Runner from had bought it from the original owner, he said the engine had been rebuilt and when i got it i was told the engine now has about 132000 on it. now to me, it looks like the engine has never been touched, but its possible with the distributor being off that it has been. I don`t hear any timing chain noise and other than needing a valve adjustment it runs good. Another thing that makes me think the distributor is off is that i have the idle screw turned all the way out and i can`t get the idle to come down to were it should be. Ive replaced all of the vacuum lines so i know the high idle isn`t being caused by a vacuum leak.

 

EFI or carb? Some 84 4runners came with a P7/EFI setup.

 

Its carbed.

 

What about the electric choke? How is that adjusted right now? That can up the idle and cause a motor to run too rich once it gets hot enough.

 

The carb is original, and as far as i can tell it has not been tampered with. I did have to replace the aap diaphragm because it was leaking. the choke seem to be opening all the way as far as i can tell. I did do a complete tune up and the old plugs were carbon fouled, but i think that was caused by the bad aap diaphragm allowing fuel into the vacuum lines and causing the engine to run very rich. once fixed it no longer runs rich. So if i can get the timing right everything else should be good.

 

If I recall correctly, a CA smog-equipped 22R runs 8 deg BTDC. Its either for that, or a Chevy 350 with no smog. Maybe they're the same?