DeTomaso Mailing List: May 98, Message #197

On Mon, 4 May 1998, Brent Perry wrote:
> So this weekend I got around to putting a light on it and at cranking 
> speeds it showed 25-30 deg ATDC.  I normally run it with 16 deg BTDC.  
> Correct me if I'm wrong but this indicates 41-46 deg retarded from 
> normal.  The car's odometer show's 78K.  If it is actually 178K, is it 
> possible to stretch the timing chain enough to get it to slip a tooth or 
> two?

Even at 78K, the timing chain could be pretty far gone.

We estimated the mileage on my car at 60K or so (the speedo had been
replaced, so actual mileage was unknown) based on various wear indicators,
and my timing chain was shot when we opened it up.


>      I guess the other option is the ignition.  The car currently runs a 
> Duraspark electronic ignition.  The ditributor hold down was tight, the 
> rotor looked good, the cap was fastened correctly with no sign of 
> arcing, the vacuum advance was responding to manual vacuum inputs 
> (sucking on the hose), the electronic pickup was mounted securely, and 
> the center shaft showed about .040-.060" of axial movement.

You could pull a valve cover and check the valve timing.  If your timing is
off by that much, it should be obvious pretty quickly...

-Andy
#3822

72 Pantera - Rocky         91 Miata - Steve (bionic)            96 A4Q - Rudolf
80 928 - Phantom               97 Miata - Nadia                84 RZ350 - Sting