Timing an 84 crossfire

[mystang]

Okay so I am now putting this engine back together after replacing every gasket except the head gaskets and I match marked the dizzy when i took it out to redo the lower intake gaskets. Well the car has most likely never been timed correctly seeing as how the previous owner did some questionable repairs from what I have seen having gone inside the engine. Anyway the chilton manual that I currently have really sucks for this car as well as it gives you no timing instructions

 

[geekinavette]

Are you asking how to install the distributor to get it started or how to set the timing once it is running?

 

[mystang]

Well I have a timing light an I know to hook the inductive pick up on the number one wire, then turn as necessary. I need to know more about where to put it to get it started, also where this infamous sticker that tells me what the timing should be at at idle if i am not mistaken?

 

[minifridge1138]

I looked at the sticker on my 1982. It is on the underside of the hood and should have a vacuum diagram and "catalyst" at the top.

Correct stock timing is 6 degrees before top dead center.
But you have to disable the electronic spark timing by disconnect thing tan wire with black stripe that goes to the distributor. Do not disconnect the 4 wire harness.

If you're asking how to hook up the timing light, you're correct about hooking it to cylinder #1 (front of the car on the driver's side).

The timing gun also needs 12V and a ground. The battery is so far away from the timing tab i have a hard time getting the gun close, so i usually cheat and hook the gun directly to the alternator. Red on Red, Black on Black. DO NOT LET THEM TOUCH!!!

I hope this helps.

 

[mystang]

yeah I got my father to send me the "old school" tools to work on cars, as I have come from the generation of let me hook up my laptop and datalog.

Okay on the distributor the coil has what i believe it a three wire connection and has a "tac" wire which has a diagnostic plug on it and there is another one next to that one closer to the firewall on the distributor, is that the one you are telling me to unhook?

 

[geekinavette]

Hey I hook a laptop up to my 84 and datalog quite often!

If you're just installing the distributor now...it's the same as any 'ol engine...have to find #1 cylinder TDC (comp stroke) and set the distributor in such that the rotor points to #1 on the distributor cap. #1 should point towards the pass. side front of the engine...almost right at the EGR valve. Use a long screwdriver to turn the oil pump shaft if necessary (if the distributor won't sit all the way down, it is because the oil pump shaft isn't lining up with the pin on the bottom of the dist. shaft).

The EST bypass is not a connector directly on the distributor cap...it is a free hanging single-pin connector with a tan wire that sits near the firewall on the driver's side...near the fuel pump relay.

 

[mystang]

Hey I hook a laptop up to my 84 and datalog quite often!

If you're just installing the distributor now...it's the same as any 'ol engine...have to find #1 cylinder TDC (comp stroke) and set the distributor in such that the rotor points to #1 on the distributor cap. #1 should point towards the pass. side front of the engine...almost right at the EGR valve. Use a long screwdriver to turn the oil pump shaft if necessary (if the distributor won't sit all the way down, it is because the oil pump shaft isn't lining up with the pin on the bottom of the dist. shaft).

The EST bypass is not a connector directly on the distributor cap...it is a free hanging single-pin connector with a tan wire that sits near the firewall on the driver's side...near the fuel pump relay.

Is it labeled as such? or I just have to dig around and find it. Okay so from what I understand get #1 at TDC get rotor to line up with #1 wire on cap. Have all connections on coil then disconnect the EST wire and get it to 6 degrees before TDC. Tighten down distributor reconnect EST and wam bam thank you mam?

 

[minifridge1138]

Yep, that sounds about right.

The only thing I would add is after you tighten down the distributor re-check the timing before reconnecting the EST. The distributor can rotate a little bit as you tighten the bolt.

 

[Hot Rod Roy]

I found that the distributor will fire a spark whether the housing is stationary and the shaft rotates, or if the shaft is stationary and the housing rotates. Set the crank position at 6 deg. BTC on #1 cyl. then twist the distributor housing and note the position of the housing when the #1 plug fires (key on, EST connecter disconnected). You may have to rotate the housing fairly quickly to get the spark. Snug down the distributor at this position and start the engine. Check the timing and you should find that it'll be pretty close!!

(The EST connector is a single tan wire, located between the brake booster and the engine.)

S.T.W.

 

[joeygstar03]

I have an 84 C4 but disconnecting the EST does not change the timing...I stay fixed at 20 connected and disconnected....any suggestions?