I have timed many of these trucks, and have always had lots of room to advance it more than necessary without problem. I wonder if someone may have put the inj. pump gear in one tooth out of mesh. That would be a way to correct the problem, remove the gear cover, remove the gear and replace it one tooth away. It would be a good idea to actually check the timing to see where it really is first. It shouldn't be required unless someone has screwed with it before.

 

So you're saying take the gear cover off the front and rotate the gear that runs the inj. pump? If that's what you're saying, that'd make sense. Since it has had the head gasket replaced, I wonder if somebody screwed something up there. I'm assuming the timing is even more retarded than before, cause this engine is even quieter since the POD's went in. The blue smoke all the time with no oil usage really makes me want to think it's retareded. Like I said, it's at the end of the slots but seems to match up with the mark there from the factory. Thanks for the info, I'll keep you up on what I find, all tips/opinions are always welcome here...that's why I love this site,

Brian

 

It's definitely a possibility that the gear is a tooth off, but I don't think the timing cover would have to come off for that head gasket job Still, when I had my pump off, I could feel that the gear was just kinda hanging out in there...don't know if there was enough room to jump a gear w/out taking the cover off, but it was close. Maybe somebody did the kdp and had the pump off at the same time---then the gear would probably just fall out when the cover came off

g

 

Oh yeah . . . Sure sign. Especially if the exhaust smells a little like Jet A . . .

 

Howdee, Did you get anywhere with the timing yet?

 

Nope, think I'm gonna leave well enough alone till I get a Trans Am on the road again...then I won't worry about having to get the truck finished if I have to go somewhere.

 

Sounds like a plan, you need to keep at least 1 on the road.