[stroker444]

Well guys, ive had my car for a little over 6 months. Its only ran absolutely perfect, as it should, for just one day... my birthday which was a few days ago. How ironic is that? I cant figure this out to save my life, i didnt touch anything but the distributor, so im positive this is an ignition issue now. I removed the distributor, changed to new spark plugs and wires and checked a few other things. I did what i was supposed to do by putting the engine at top dead center and lining the oil key rotor up to point directly at number 1. For some reason the car just would not run. I got desperate and slowley turned the oil shaft just a little at a time to move the rotor to eventually get it to run. Finally the car started up, but the timing was very low.. only 28 degrees at 2500 rpm. It ran absoluley perfectly, but the engine sounded very strange. The idle was at around 750, but the car sounded strange, you couldnt hear the cam loping or anything. Very strange??

Anyway, i came home and removed the distributor so i could advance the timing a bit more. I had to turn the rotor because the distributor body couldnt move much further becuase of the firewall. Anyway after i advanced the timing to 36 degrees at 2500 rpm, the car started to run horrible again. I said oh well and just backed the timing backdown by turning the distribtur clockwise until the timing was back at 28 degrees at 2500 rpm. Im so confused.. why would my engine do this? Does turning the actual rotor make a difference between just turning the distributor? I thought that as long as the timing is the same using the timing light at the balancer, the timing is the same right? sorry im just very confused..

[automotive breath]

Try taking the dist. cap off and pulling no.1 plug. Turn the engine over with a
thumb over the plug hole while watching the rotor turn. Check to see if the
rotor is pointing at the no.1 terminal when the compression blows your thumb
off, or maybe between two terminals. I think this will show your problem.

[cobalt327]

I would verify TDC on the damper and tab are accurate. It sounds like a cam or (more likely) ignition timing problem. You should also check the rotor phasing.