What did I do this time?

[Guest the_dj]

I'll start off with: If you snug the distributor down so it's tight but you can still barely move it with both hands to set the timing, then set it, but forget to tighten it the rest of the way, will it slowly advance itself or retard itself?

 

Second...what are the chances I have a collapsed hydraulic lifter? I have one that is making noise, but I don't get to re-adjust the rocker arms until this weekend (I'm in another city), and I just want to know what I'm up against. They might just need adjusting, but what else could be causing the ticking noise? Could it be related to the timing issues?

 

Sam

[Guest gbvol54]

Without knowing your precise symptons it's hard to hazard a guess. I doubt 'ticking' from lifters would be from timing issues. However 'pinging' from pre-ignition could be. Generally would occur under a load not at idle. If this seem to be the case you might try adjusting the timing slightly each way to see if you can notice a difference.

[Guest the_dj]

I figure the ticking is from the rocker arms being too loose, which I couldn't hear until yesterday due to open shorty collectors. I'm getting some rocker clips and I'm going to adjust them with the engine running this weekend.

 

I figure my idle problems and lack of power/sluggishness is due more to timing.

 

Sam

[Guest greimann]

If you distributor is really loose it would retard itself due to rotation of the rotor shaft, but if it was as tight as you say it is unlikely that it would rotate because of that. Maybe vibration could move it, but that could go either way.

 

Your ticking could be caused by mis-adjustment, or a flat cam lobe, or worn lifter face. If adjusting doesn't help, then it is probably one of the other two. You don't really need to adjust a hydraulic lifter while running. Just take the nut down 'till you feel a drag on the push rod when rotating it, then go 1/2 turn down on the nut.