Symptoms of being a 'tooth off' ????

[85crownHPP]

Ive heard stories of a car not running right becuase of being one tooth off from where the distributor should be.

What are the symptoms of this???

I seem to remember some one saying that they were a tooth off and adjusting the timing one way or another led them to contact the T-stat housing with the TFI module.
Now - take a close look at mine, and tell me what you think.

[grandpaslincoln]

Looks pretty close to that housing. Is it running alright? Or are you having timing problems? When I did mine, I was off by a tooth or 2, but then again I'm using the '74 disty, which is dimensionally smaller than the EEC-IV disty.

[85crownHPP]

well, its run the same for the last 6 years... getting about 20mpg highway, decent power, decent hill climbing, decent passing, but by no means fast.
My only complaint it that past 2/3 throttle, nothing happens. (besides a downshift when appropriate)
At any speed, in any gear, it goes fine to about 2/3 throttle - anything more and it goes no faster and starts to ping.
She seems to top out on the highway at about 75-80 mph. If I try to do anything more (except going downhill of course) shes really struggling.
I retarrded the timing to about 8 degrees, and it didnt make any difference. Then I tried to advance it to up to 14 degrees, and the same thing, no difference.

When I hear stories of Nate running at 120mph with ease on the interstate, I get jelous!!!!

It goes fine if you drive like a normal person, I just cant drive like a bat out of hell, even for CFI. The short block is relativley fresh (50K) soi i dont think its just a worn out engine.

I rarely ever drive like a bat out of hell, so I havent looked into this since it does ok otherwise. I had just been thinking about it recently, hoping that this problem could just be due to something silly like this.

[Enigma]

I've had mine up to 90-95 several times, and she did it without effort. Still had plenty of juice left to go.
How old are the injectors.? Maybe it's not getting enough fuel at the upper end.?

[Grand Marquis GT]

I had to struggle to get to 105 when i was still CFI. And thats with 14 degree of timing and good exhaust.

With a carb, top speed is around 120ish...

[phayzer5]

I had to struggle to get to 105 when i was still CFI. And thats with 14 degree of timing and good exhaust.

With a carb, top speed is around 120ish...

Heh, my cabed car and Marcus's grand prix outran you like nothing

Induction makes a difference in the breathing capability. Gearing helps too. What ratio is your axle?

[88grandmarq]

No, you are not a tooth off. the motor would not start or be very difficult to start if it was.

[Freshmeat]

88grandmarq is right. IF you could get it to start, it would run like absolute ass.

If you're not getting any difference from retarding or advancing the timing, perhaps you're having issues with the actual distributor not properly advancing.

[Grand Marquis GT]

EEC-IV.

I thought that the advance was computer controlled?

[Freshmeat]

It's controlled by computer signals, but if the mechanics inside the distributor are worn out, the computer can do what it wants and won't make a bit of difference.

[85crownHPP]

hmmm... any one know how to test the electrical advance?? I have a couple spare distributors.

The injectors are only about 3 years old, and the fuel fliter is fresh.
Anyone know what the specs should be for a fuel pressure test?? Maybe its time for a pressure regulator.

[AOD]

Hook up a timing light and rev the engine? Unplug the sprout, plug it back in, watch the timing light, it should move if the computer is controlling it.

[Tiggie]

AutoZone's website list 30-45psi for fuel pressure on an '85.

I say put the points and condensor back in there . My mom's '87 5.0 has always had to use 89 octane to avoid predetonation.

On my '82, the vacuum advance is all the way against the thermostat housing, but I don't think that applies to you.

[83tc]

ok, how do i mess with timing on the 83'? and is there a vaccume advance on the dist?, cant see it, on another note, new injectors are finally in, runs a million times better, no more sputter

[gadget73]

Pete: that looks normal. If the distributor was a tooth off, you wouldn't be able to get the timing right. most likely. There isn't a whole ton of swing room for that distributor, and if it were off, you'd have it jammed one way or the other and might just barely get it close enough to run. Sounds like its running out of fuel to me, either weak fuel pump or stuffed injectors.


83tc: Hmm. EEC III = evil shit. I don't think they have a vac advance, nor do I think its even really adjustable.