Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Interesting Timing Findings

[CToney]

I did the dropped valve, using adjustment screw on rocker arm, to find my true TDC. It was about a 1/4 inch out which by my calculations is about 3 degrees out. I then wanted to see if I could find the "dudckbill" in the aligment hole on the side of the injection pump. I could not find it. I rotated the engine over and found the duckbill to be at the mark I made on the vibration damper, with a dropped valve, about an 1. 25" clockwise from TDC. If I remember correctly the duckbill came down from the top. A diesel tech told me again, if I remember correctly, lost the paper I wrote it on, if the duckbill was in the top of the opening the timing was advanced from stock and bottom it was advanced. I talked to the shop who did the timing and they clean the shaft and then use a special nut, no lock washer, and torque it to 185 ft-lbs. The tech complained on it being such a stupid system for locking the timing in. He figured that my timing may have slipped. They charge $178 + $13 nut+ tax to set the timing. I hope they stand behind their work if it is out. My truck starts like crap and smokes a ton till its warmed up. My Brother's old 93 with a ton of miles and slightly scored cyls ie lower compression starts way better and doesn't smoke hardly at all. Sorry about the long post but I wouldn't mind some info from someone who has a bit more experience with the P pumps.



Wanting to get my first gen engine into a F**D



CR Toney

 

[champspa]

not that i've done many diesels but finding center I have done . that valve you dropped put an indicator on it and start toward the top dead center pick a spot and mark the damper. go to the other side of top dead center and turn backwards until you reach the same height that the indicator was at. mark the damper and split the difference between the marks. that is dead center the valve has to be loose with no spring make sure it's at or very near the top before trying this