How would a stock 302 (1988) run if the timing chain was advanced 1 tooth?




How would a stock 302 (1988) run if the timing chain was retarded 1 tooth?

 

Install it straight up, that way you never have to remember which way it was installed when you get to messing with the timing... The old emission engines installed at like 4 degree retarde, kept the performance down, as well as emissions (and fun).

Just my $.02's --Mike

 

To advance or retard it by one tooth is a heck of a lot. Adjustable timing sets allow adjustments by degrees, not by a whole tooth. Offhand, I don't know how many degrees of advnce/retard you'd get out of moving by one tooth, but I think it would be excessive and would just run like crap either way. I wouldn't recommend trying it...unless you don't mind tearing right back into it to change it back!

 

"I think it would be excessive and would just run like crap either way"

What exactly do you mean?

 

Say your cam gear has 44 teeth, and your crank gear has 22 teeth. If you move the cam one tooth from straight up, you have adv./ret. the timing 4.09 degrees. Now, if you move the crank gear one tooth from straight up, you have adv./ret. the timing 8.18 degrees, a big enough change to make the motor run like "crap". Best just to install straight up with a stock engine and valve train, and make any adjustments with the distributor setting.

 

Well, to advance or retard it by one whole tooth on the chain is way more advance or retard than you would want.

An aftermarket multi-index timing set allows adustments of up to about 6 degrees either direction. As I said, I don't know how many degrees of difference one tooth makes (never researched it...never had a reason to) but I know it would be way in excess of that 6 degrees and the cam timing would simply be too far off for the engine to run well. Not to mention the danger of the valves and pistons coming into contact, which can be catastrophic.

On Edit: Thanks, Pete. You type faster than I do! Good to have those numbers.

 

No problem Dan. I was wondering if grena wanted to possibly install a timing set this way, or if it's suspected that it may have already been done and the motor's not running right?

 

I have a problem and I am begining suspect that the timing chain is off a tooth.


I know about teeth and degrees...I know it's not a good idea to INTENTIONALLY install a timing chain this way...but I am not sure exactly how to tell if the timing chain is off a tooth by how the engine is running. <- That is what I am trying get at.

 

Ah, now it becomes a bit more clear. I thought you were wanting to install it a tooth off for a performance advantage. Good call, Pete.

Grena, why don't you describe the symptoms to us, and tell us why you think it may be a tooth off. And do you think someone else installed it that way, or do you suspect that it may have slipped due to chain stretch?