can,t get ignition timing right

[grumpyvette]

GRUMPY? I am having trouble with getting timing set back up to factory specs. I set up distributor up with #1 on compression stroke to top dead center, distributor lined up like its supposed to and adjusted housing to line up rotor with #1 on cap. Disconnected advance timing connector and with using timing light started motor and turned housing counter clock wise until I was able to see mark on harmonic. Now here's the issue I got....I finally got harmonic mark in site but motor stalls out and dies and now where my #1 on cap was at #6 is in its place and I'm still about 40 degrees from where mark should be! Engine runs great but no ware near in proper timing! Any advice as to why its so far off or maybe what to do next?

STEP #1 is ALWAYS verify TDC and your timing tab and damper reflect REALITY, and if you failed to get the cam degreed in it could be indexed incorrectly causing major problems
a few minutes reading links and sub links will help here!

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=90

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=2798

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=4532&p=12060&hilit=bushings+timing#p12060

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=54&p=67&hilit=dropping+distributor#p67

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=967

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=1015

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=4683

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=875

infrared thermometers are a very useful tool to track down issues with tuning, or mal functioning sensors

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=138&p=168&hilit=infrared#p168
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=109


A quick VALVE ADJUSTMENT IF DONE CORRECTLY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CLEAR MANY ISSUES RELATED TO IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED VALVES AND WHILE IT MAY NOT BE YOUR ISSUE ITS A FAIRLY COMMON SCREW-UP RELATED TO TUNING ISSUES
A visual inspection tool that easily fits thru a spark plug thread hole is valuable at times

GOOGLE PV-618 and PV-636
READ thru BOTH THESE RELATED THREAD's, ON FINDING TDC and related info

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=1015&p=1864&hilit=tabs#p1864
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=966&p=13811#p13811

TUNING SKILLS MAY BE VERY USEFUL
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=109&p=44341&hilit=+reading+plugs#p44341

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=383&p=470&hilit=vacuum+gauge#p470

a leak down tester is always a good test tool to have access too
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=41&p=49&hilit=+leak+gauge#p49

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=93547

BTW remember those cheap crappy fuel filters I told you to never use

well heres where they come in handy, you plug them into the rubber fuel line between the vacuum gauge and the intake plenum where they act like a pulse dampers making the vacuum needle stay a bit more steady and easier to read



A MULTI METER AND TIMING LIGHT WILL BE USEFUL

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-in-1-dig ... 98674.html

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSD-8991/