Installed Head, Car runs like crap!! Please Help.

[MattAnonymous]

Well I've searched everywhere and can't seem to figure out what I've done wrong.

I installed a remanufactured head on my KA24E as well as a new timing chain kit and made sure that everything lined up accordingly, but the car runs like crap.

The engine's firing becomes more consistent as I adjust the top of the distributor to the right, but it's only decent when it's as far as it can go with the bolts removed.

Any ideas? I'm really in need of some help!

Thanks,
Matt

[TheSnail]

Your cam timing is more advanced then your crank timing. Most likley you are a tooth off while installing the chain.

[MattAnonymous]

First off, thanks for the reply.

How can that be if the silver links line up properly?

[TheSnail]

I never did a kaE timing chain so I dont know what a "silver link" is. Just set the crank to TDC and look at the timing chain at the cam once more. If you need to fully retard the timing for it to run, most likly your cam is one tooth advanced, so turn the cam one chain link counter clockwise.

[MattAnonymous]

Well the KA24E has punchmarks on the cam and crank sprockets that are supposed to line up with the different colored links (silver ones) on the timing chain when the No. 1 cylinder is @ TDC on the compression stroke. I've done this, but the car just doesn't run anywhere near what would be acceptable.

I tried moving the chain link counter clockwise and then I hand cranked the engine several revolutions to ensure that the valves and pistons wouldn't hit. This made the car start up and then die.

Should I try moving the chain in the other direction and repeating this process? I'm assuming that worse in one direction should mean better in the other.

Thanks for your help,
Matt

[TheSnail]

You did it the wrong way. By moving the chain counter clock wise, you advanced the cam timing even more. I belive I said to turn the cam counter clock wise meaning the chain is moving one linke clock wise. That should cure your problems. Let us know:)

[krazyskata13]

im having this exact same problem. Installed new head. TIming set up exactly to FSM but only way it will start and run if i turn the dist. cap all the way to the right. It can drive but it bogs down and backfires. I tried advanceing the timing chain counter clock wise 1 tooth and didnt really make a difference. Any help would be awesome!

[aznpoopy]

old thread, but anyway...

in my experience, if the car only starts and runs when the dist is all the way one way or another, you have the distributor installed one tooth off.

btw, even if you line up the hash mark on the distributor and install it, the act of putting it in fucks up the alignment because of the way the teeth are shaped.

cap = fully to the right (bolt on the left), you need to reinstall with the rotor turned leftwards one tooth

cap = fully to the left (bolt on the right), you need to resintall with the rotor turned rightwards one tooth

[krazyskata13]

how do i reinstall it one tooth leftwarrds? cuz its halfmoon shap so i cant really turn it and fit it in

[aznpoopy]

etch some marks so you have a good frame of reference.

take out the distributor. note the position of the rotor. now turn it left or right slightly, maybe by an inch. stick it back in. try and try again until car runs and starts with it somewhere in the middle. then you have the range of adjustment you need.

[monkey7]

If its a half moon one, you have to take out the oil pump and move it one tooth and then align with distributor.