What is going on? Help!

[JG1966]

What is going on? I wanted to fine-tune my timing on my 340. It was originally at 17 initial, 35 total (don't run vacuum advance). I looked for highest vacuum and idle. When I was done, it was right back at 17/35. This is where it gets strange. All of a sudden, I had hot start issues (never, ever was an issue before) and I am almost certain the distributor isn't in the exact same spot as before. I took it for a spin, no detonation or anything weird. But what is going on? Thanks

 

[RemCharger]

Timing chain stretch, distributor gear bushing wear, distributor wear internally. Common places for timing woes

 

[JG1966]

Timing chain stretch, distributor gear bushing wear, distributor wear internally. Common places for timing woes

Thanks Rem. But doesn't it seem odd that this would just happen to happen right after I moved the distributor around for the first time in months? I'm certain it's not the timing chain and 99% sure it's not distributor wear.

 

[dan juhasz]

does your timing light have an advance retard feature. not reset, malfunction

 

[turbine68rt]

Are you running the exact same fuel as always or does it now have a higher ethanol content? If you use a choke is it fully open hot? Check timing again and make small reference mark to verify that it's not the distributor that's moving.

 

[JG1966]

Thanks Turbine. AED 750 DP, no choke. Same gas (15 gallons 93, 5 gallons 110 and Lucas ethanol treatment). I just added some ethanol treatment (I hadn't used as much as I usually do this tankfull). pulled the distributor and moved engine to no. 1 tdc. The distributor gear looked off one tooth. Pointing toward No. 7 cylinder instead off No. 1. (not sure how that happened). I moved gear to point at front intake bolt and dropped distributor back in. Started it, set timing at 17. My distributor is back pointing to where it was before (fixed that issue) but still having some hot start issues

 

[JG1966]

does your timing light have an advance retard feature. not reset, malfunction

Yes Dan. That was my first thought. I'm gonna try a different light and see what it says.

 

[turbine68rt]

What carb base gasket thickness/type are you using? What kind of temps are you running hot?

 

[JG1966]

What carb base gasket thickness/type are you using? What kind of temps are you running hot?

I use a standard Fel Pro carb base gasket, no spacer or anything. Car runs cool even on the hottest days. My factory temp gauge never even hits halfway. Hot starting has never been an issue