On my 1996 vintage Volvo 4.3GS with Holley 4 barrel, I am trying to set the timing. I followed the procedures, started engine, installed timing plug, connected B+ (engine died so I had to start over and crank up the idle RPMs - idle RPM was 650 before I started). I got the timing set to the spec of 6 BTDC, or so I thought, but when I removed the battery lead and timing plug, the engine died, so I had to really crank up the RPMs again and can't get it to idle below about 800 RPM without eventually dying. The timing does advance to around 17 degrees at 1600 RPM and 22 degrees at 2000 RPM (these numbers are relative to what I set it at at idle), so advance seems to be working, but engine will not restart without cracking the throttle pretty far open and engine will not idle.
The harmonic balancer has a sawcut in it, single mark, no scale. The plastic timing chain cover has a molded-in notch with a single V groove in it for timing indication. No scale of BTDC or ATDC on the cover either. What do these two marks mean when they are lined up at idle? TDC? 6 BTDC factory spec?
Sounds like I am too far advanced for base timing, hence the difficult starting? Why the bad idle?
Thanks.
The harmonic balancer has a sawcut in it, single mark, no scale. The plastic timing chain cover has a molded-in notch with a single V groove in it for timing indication. No scale of BTDC or ATDC on the cover either. What do these two marks mean when they are lined up at idle? TDC? 6 BTDC factory spec?
Sounds like I am too far advanced for base timing, hence the difficult starting? Why the bad idle?
Thanks.
