zzAMBIENzz
New Member
Finally got the Auto Auction KJ tore down yesterday, and as expected, the timing was off ... bad!
The previous owner had done new head gaskets and looks like they installed the timing set starting with #1 on the wrong stroke. Everything was perfect ... perfectly 180 degrees out. The crank pulley at TDC compression was at 12 o'clock, and the cams and dummy pulley were at 6.
New parts are currently on the way to correct the problem. But there is still the one, BIG lingering question:
HOW THE HELL DID IT RUN AT ALL!!!???
To quote my mechanic friend that came by just to put a second set of eyes on it for me "That's Impossible!" But, impossible or not, it did run ... quite well for something that was completely wrong.
So does anyone have any insight as to how, with both cams installed 180 out, one side of the engine would run fine, and one side would be completely dead?
I should also note that I did decide not to pull the heads and do a visual inspection of the valvetrain. I have tested every cylinder for compression and all are good, and after correcting the cam timing, I reinstalled the tensioners "good enough" to rotate the engine by hand, and everything spins smooth and free. I really hope I don't regret cutting this corner, but it saves nearly $350, and every test indicates the valves are good. I can only assume that since it was timed exactly 180 out, this allowed the valves to still open in time with the pistons, just the wrong valves were opening.
The previous owner had done new head gaskets and looks like they installed the timing set starting with #1 on the wrong stroke. Everything was perfect ... perfectly 180 degrees out. The crank pulley at TDC compression was at 12 o'clock, and the cams and dummy pulley were at 6.
New parts are currently on the way to correct the problem. But there is still the one, BIG lingering question:
HOW THE HELL DID IT RUN AT ALL!!!???
To quote my mechanic friend that came by just to put a second set of eyes on it for me "That's Impossible!" But, impossible or not, it did run ... quite well for something that was completely wrong.
So does anyone have any insight as to how, with both cams installed 180 out, one side of the engine would run fine, and one side would be completely dead?
I should also note that I did decide not to pull the heads and do a visual inspection of the valvetrain. I have tested every cylinder for compression and all are good, and after correcting the cam timing, I reinstalled the tensioners "good enough" to rotate the engine by hand, and everything spins smooth and free. I really hope I don't regret cutting this corner, but it saves nearly $350, and every test indicates the valves are good. I can only assume that since it was timed exactly 180 out, this allowed the valves to still open in time with the pistons, just the wrong valves were opening.