Can someone help? I have an 80 wagon with 2.3 , I need to adjust the timing but cannot figure out how to loosen the distributor. The timing mark is way off. I have felt all around under the distributor but cant find anything.
If your standing on the drivers side of the car looking down at the distributor, the clamp bolt is at about the 10:00 position. It will take a 17MM socket and long extension or a distributor wrench.
Thanks , I found it. When I used the timing light , the mark showed up damn near under the waterpump. I adjusted the distributor and brought the line back down near 6* and the car died ! I put the distributor back to the original position and it still won't start , now I am screwed. Do you know where the other end of the vacuum advance line from the distributor goes?
The vacuum advance line goes to a port on the intake manifold, for manifold vacuum.
Has anyone else had any problems with the timing on a pinto? I adjusted the distributor and finally got the car to start. The timing though is WAY off , the mark is practically under the waterpump pulley. The distributor is in the "sweet spot' per say, If I try to adjust it further either way the engines runs worse or dies. the car drives well , except if I stomp the accelerator from a dead stop , it dies. I have replaced everything fuel related from the tank up, new lines , pump , in line filters and rebuilt carburetor. Any ideas? Thanks.
I noticed you didn't mention the timing belt. Did you check the timing belt & see if the cam timing is off? It sounds like you might have an issue there. You could be off a tooth or so & the car run, but run like crap. Also when you check the cam timing marks it would also be a good idea to pull the distributor & see if the rotor is pointing towards the number one terminal.
I saw your post and when I saw timing all those great memories of trying to do the crank shaft timing and the distributor timing on the 73 2.3 liter pinto I was working on came up and repeated in my head like a night mere. Whenever I had the distributor right on the crank shaft was off itss soooo fustrattiinggg!!
Your not trying to time the engine off the wrong plug wire are you?...lol....just a thought