The originals had nylon tips that like to break off. I'm sure yours has been replaced. If the gears have no visible wear and you can just change the chain and have it tight, that's all good.
hi guys, thanks for the info. I might just go the whole nine yards and change the gears too. I'am sort of a masochist.
hi Gerry, yes I think i'll change the gears too. should I coat both sides of the gaskets with sealer, or just one?what should I time the engine at. 6 btdc?
I think i spread a thin layer of ultra black onone sides of the crank/cam cover gasket to hold it in place on installation of the cover. My '72 GS (350) has the idle timing set at 7 btdc. Anything less and it idles like crap.
http://v8buick.com/index.php?threads/power-timing-your-buick-v8.63475/ What is the total timing? Do you still have the 1112109 distributor?
Is that the big cap GM HEI? Did you read the linked thread? Adjusting ignition timing is not as simple as setting initial timing. The only time the engine runs at the initial timing is at idle. Step on the gas and the mechanical advance and vacuum advance add timing. You can't rely on the engine sticker or published specs because you changed the distributor. I was actually asking Gerry about the 1112109 distributor. It came in the 1972 Buick 350.
Doesn't matter. My point is that we can't know what you should set the initial timing at because we don't know the specifications of the distributor you are using. They are all different depending on what year engine they were originally installed in. Distributors are different inside. To do it right, you need to set the total advance.
Larry - I have the correct distributor installed. If I remember correctly the total timing is 33 or 34*. Works for me. Car does fly but one has to always be aware of police & old motor.
The reason I asked is because the maximum amount of mechanical advance in that distributor is 16*. If you have your initial at 7*, you could only have 23* of total advance. You aren't counting vacuum advance are you?
I like to check TDC compression stroke by just pulling the driver side valve cover and seeing that both rocker arms on #1 are loose, if one of the rockers is pushing a valve down then you are 180 out. just another way to be sure you are on correct TDC.
You can also watch the #1 intake valve (2nd from the front). The intake valve CLOSES as the piston is on it's way up the cylinder on the compression stroke. So bumping the starter with the valve cover off, watch the intake valve open, then close, and watch for the balancer mark coming around.
