Got a 88 4x4 22re and I'm trying to adjust my timing to 5 deg. BTDC. I get it to 2 deg. But can't rotate the distributer any further on the pivot bolt. So its at 2deg. Now and don't know what that means or what to do about it. Any answers would be great thanks.

 

It could be a tooth off then re adjust it.

 

Yep, sounds like you need to move it over a tooth. There is a limited range of adjustability and you have to rotate a tooth to get into the range you want. There are specific directions for this and perhaps videos, but the basic idea is that you go to TDC and carefully remove the dist while paying attention to where it's pointing before/after the gears slip out of the hole, then rotate one gear tooth in the direction you need to go and pop it back in. Because the gear is curved, the dist will point in different spots when in/out - you have to insert so it ends up in the range you want.
Good luck!

 

Yep. it is EASY to put this distributor in a tooth off (well, atleast for the 3.0). Find and follow directions on how to remove and install your distributor, or else you'll screw it up (install it 180 degrees off) and make it worse.

BUT, I had a problem with a non OEM distributor where installed correctly I couldn't go above about 5 degrees, and installed a tooth ahead it wouldn't go below 15. If you adjust from max 2 degrees a tooth, you may be getting a minimum of 12 deg. You should have it set at what the FSM says, or slightly before, 12 I hear is a good place.

 

Did moving it over a tooth work?