DeTomaso Mailing List: April 98, Message #98

Scott: first, how new is the timing chain? Sounds like the cam jumped time to
me. Also check if the harmonic balencer has moved: age and backfires can fail
this, screwing up efforts to re-time the engine. And if your Holley carb is
old, a backfire could blow out the power valve but not damage much else (newer
Holleys have a check valve that stops this). To find if you dropped metal into
the carb: pull all the spark plugs and carefully check their tips. Debris will
go directly to the plugs and shatter the porcelain, break off ground wires
etc. If the plugs are all OK, keep looking: the wing-nut probably ain't in the
motor! Absolute worst case: the head and/or cylinder wall can be cracked by
debris. J DeRyke