well i got the engine all back together today and it fire up on the first couple of cranks... got out the timing light to set the timing while she warmed up....and it was at about -30 btdc and idling high. so i turned the distributor and got it to about -10degs, but ran out of adjustment. figured it might be off a tooth there, so i pulled it out hopped one tooth and then put the light one it again and couldn't get it any closer then +5degrees... is there something i've overlooked? why can't i get the timing between -10 and +5? i'm 99% sure that the belt is on right... if this truck had a carb i would say that maybe the vaccume advance wasn't working .... any idea?

 

Ground the test connector and then try it.

 

ya, you have to short out E1 and TE1 (i think) on the diagnostics contorls. Use a paperclip.

 

grounding the e1 and te[1] didn't seem to make a difference still can't get timing between -10 and +5 which is where i would think it need to be. around -7 maybe? my vecl [sticker under hood with timing and emmissions info] is missing so i'm not sure what it should be at...

 

right now it seems to idle the best [smoothest and right rpm] at like -30.... the only code i get is 21: o2 sensor, but that just hanging under the truck as i have no exaust jsut open headers....

 

up you go...

 

Greetings,
Get your #1 Cyl. to TDC, take off your dist. cap and make sure that the rotor button is pointing to the #1 Cylinder. Jump your connectors,("te" & "e1") she should be in time, or you should be able to adjust your time to 10 Deg. Make sure you engine is warmed up and the idle is set close to spec-850 rpm's
Take Care!

 

i've, done this, several time to be sure... the closest i can get it is about [-11]degrees, then i run out of adjustment room.... rotor is pointing right at the #1 contact @tdc... truck runs but idle when warm is really low, has almost undrivable hesitation... will it be safe to drive to muffler shop like this [i have no exaust right now]....

 

Do you have the right belt? A stretched belt or wrong size belt will give you that also!

 

i reused the belt as money is tight right now with the low snow pack... it had maybe 60k on it and looked to be in great shape, not streched no imperfections....

 

My first thought is that maybe you didn't line up the notches on the cam pulleys with the notches on the rear timing cover. Outside that, I'm not sure what else could cause it.

 

ok now i'm getting a code 51.... so that would be tps right? and just to confirm, the timing should be set to what degree for the 88 v6? i'm missing my sticker with all that good info....

 

The correct timing is 10 degrees BTDC, and actually a code 41 is your TPS, but it will throw a code 51 which usually but not always is a TPS.
Make sure your TPS is to spec. when your truck is warmed up and running and you jump "te" and "e1" you should hear the rpm's drop, if it doesn't it's usually in the TPS circuit.
Good Luck!