Pinto Car Club of America
Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: pintoguy76 on August 18, 2009, 09:56:45 PM
I keep trying and trying to get the timing right on my 74 pinto, 2.3L with points. I set the engine at tdc, set the rotor to point to the #1 tower on the cap, and point the timing mark on the cam pulley to the timing pointer. It has to be a bit above or a bit below or the belt wont fit in the grooves. It seems that a bit below the pointer is where it runs best. Now the problem i have is that it should start and run pretty good right there. But it will not. I have to move the distributor 1/4 turn (as far as it will go towards the firewall) in order for it to start and run decent. Can anyone tell my why that is? It should run great pointed directly at the #1 tower, but when i have to turn the distributor so far to get it to run, it obviously firing a different cylinder and not #1. It also appears that the the little plate that the points screw on to and connects to the vacuum advance is kind of floppy. Its real loose an can be moved around by hand easily. Is that the way it should be? What am I doing wrong? The main thing is that I shouldn't have to turn the distributor a quarter of the way away from the #1 plug tower in order for it to run. That just isnt right...
I had a similar issue with my motor recently after fitting a new timing belt.
You may have to release the tension on the timing belt and rotate the sprocket that drives the distributor accordingly. Make sure that you don't loose the correct line up tdc marks on the crank pulley and cam sprocket. They should not move when rotating the dist. sprocket.
Not sure about the points plate issue as I have an electronic ignition dist.
This worked for me.
Fred
The point plate should not be moving. Also check the advance mechanism under the plate for free movement, broken or missing springs. Keep updating and good luck. jt
P.S. Might be time to go electronic!
Move the dist as far forward (away from the firewall) as you can, then reset your timing marks and line up the rotor to #1. And yes you will have to move the dist 1/4 of a turn to get your base timing at 10 BTDC. That should put the dist back where it was when you started. The points plate should move side to side freely but not up and down.