Been a While...

[Mickey Richaud]

...since I've updated progress on the GT. Partly because I didn't want to bore folks, and partly because it's been pretty slow going.

I've been chasing down a serious oil leak topside on the intake manifold. Finally got it resolved after taking the carb and intake off several times. Lesson: Never assume bolt threads are sealed! You almost can't use too much goop.

Related to that, oil was making its way into the intake passages, so the plugs showed both soot and oil. Have replaced them, and have fingers crossed there. One plug, number six, which is the rear-most on the driver's side, looked like it had hardly fired at all! Swapped in another plug wire, and it ~seems~ better. Still chasing that down.

And a third issue is timing. When I bought the crate engine, I also got a mild cam for it and installed it. I know the timing marks on the cam and crank sprockets were lined up properly, but he 3.4 V6 doesn't have a timing tab on the cover to line up with the mark on the harmonic balancer. So I've been using a vacuum gauge to time it. Given the above leakage, I'm sure that was off. So I bought a TDC stop tool and have marked EXACT TDC on the balancer, and there's a pronounced seam on the timing cover that I can use to set timing. YAY! :thumbsup:

BUT, my timing light died. Would only flash intermittently, even when hooked to the coil to dizzy wire. Took the clamp fitting apart and the piece of whatever metal inside had broken. So I get to spend more money on this beast!

So, is there a valid reason why we pursue this hobby??

 

[DrEntropy]

To keep us off th' streets, of course!

 

[Mickey Richaud]

To keep us off th' streets, of course!

Fait accompli!

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Mickey, you make a bolt on timing pointer, then find TDC, they even make a tool that screws into #1 spark plug hole for that, they are prtty cheap, then mark the balancer and there ya go, all you need is to mark TDC, if you are using dial back timing light. Hope this helps

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Mickey, you make a bolt on timing pointer, then find TDC, they even make a tool that screws into #1 spark plug hole for that, they are prtty cheap, then mark the balancer and there ya go, all you need is to mark TDC, if you are using dial back timing light. Hope this helps

Thanks, Hap - I did buy the tool you mentioned, and they work great! Found that the actual TDC is just a couple of degrees from the factory mark, so I know I was close. And the seam I mentioned above is a good reference, so I don't really need the pointer, which could actually move or become bent.

And the new timing light will be something like this one.

 

[JPSmit]

Mickey, you make a bolt on timing pointer, then find TDC, they even make a tool that screws into #1 spark plug hole for that, they are prtty cheap, then mark the balancer and there ya go, all you need is to mark TDC, if you are using dial back timing light. Hope this helps

Thanks, Hap - I did buy the tool you mentioned, and they work great! Found that the actual TDC is just a couple of degrees from the factory mark, so I know I was close. And the seam I mentioned above is a good reference, so I don't really need the pointer, which could actually move or become bent.

And the new timing light will be something like this one.

FWIW Jeff Schlemmer swears by a basic Craftsman light. no doo dads at all.

 

[drooartz]

And the new timing light will be something like this one.

I've got one of those, Mickey, and it works well. Didn't like to work reliably on the Bugeye (too much interference I think) but works nicely on the MGB and the tach feature is quite handy.

And feel free to post updates whenever you'd can... we like to follow along.