Daht-Daht-Daht-Daht ( pause ) Phweeht. Daht-Daht-Daht-Daht ( pause ) Phweeht. Daht-Daht-Daht-Daht ( pause ) Phweeht. Daht-Daht-Daht-Daht ( pause ) Phweeht. That's the sound sound my 20 R engine makes at idle. It starts, runs, and drives. It just doesn't sound right. Took a timing light to it. The timing mark sits at one degree. What should be done? What is the the correct sequence in doing a tune up and timing?
Could you post a video? For a complete tune up I would: Oil Change (engine, trans, and diff) Adjust valves Lube the suspension Air Filter Fuel Filter Plugs Wires Cap Rotor Points Condenser Set timing Then run it for a bit and check the plugs, then look into messing with the carb.
Hid sight is 20-20... I wish I would have read these posts 24 hours ago. I took the truck out to haul some stuff. I SHOULD have test drove it a bit longer than I did, and it came back to bite me in the arse. It was driving okay, and then started lurching. I got it into a parking lot were it just stopped turning over. Some people came over after hearing it not start, and we went through the same sequence everyone here suggested doing. There was problem with the distributor. A wire dissenigrated. I'm not sure what this wire is called... See pics I pulled the distributor today after setting the engine to TDCC. I'll get the wire tomorrow and new points. ( What is the gap for these points?) I got hubris and pushed it to much without checking my work... lesson learned!
That definitely looks like it would cause problems. Also I really recommend getting a shop manual for your truck. They walk you through almost everything with pictures. I have 4 different manuals (all bought for super cheap at swap meets and from ebay) and they are by far the best money I have ever spent on my truck.
The wire is a ground wire within the distributor. Or at least that's what I'm told. Went to a variety of auto stores. None have it Went to dealer. Don't have it, either. But can get it if I buy a whole new distributor! ( These ground wires must be available somewhere if it's in a distributor that can purchased new..... ) Some clerks are saying make one. 12 gauge wire and then eyelets. Easy to do?
Super easy to make. I would just buy some wire and crimp terminals and go for it. A tip though, take the plastic skirt off the terminal before crimping, that allows you to see what you are doing and make a good connection. Usually I then use heat shrink tubing over where the plastic was but in this case I don't see that being necessary as its just a ground. To remove the skirt I usually use a torch to heat the plastic until it is soft and then use pliers to slip it off. The dists I have seen, 76 and later, do not use a ground wire. If you do decide to replace the distributor an option is to get a later one (79 or later I think) that use a hall effect sensor instead of points. You have to do some wiring to get it to work but there are write ups on that if you google it.
3Sp -- Everyone: Thanks! Will do! I went to the junkyard today, and I couldn't find the pieces. ( The distributor was missing from the 1978, and the 1979 had the distributor you mentioned). So I'll make my own. Will post pics of what I do. Will do your tips. THANK YOU ALL!
Lose the points and be done with it once and for all. A later model distributor will drop in then either find a factory coil and ignitor or set up an hei module firing an aftermarket coil. I suggest the latter.