im going nuts

[davidkfannin]

the ****ing cold weather sucks i swear it my truck would not start in the below 45 weather but with in minutes after cranking it it would start up and drive so i figured what the heck i will try to adjust the timing by hand BULLSHIT LOL i think i messed it up some how I NEED SOME HELP IS IT POSSIBLE TO ADJUST IT BY HAND OR SHOULD I BUY A GUN FOR 100 BUCKS OR SHOULD I JUST JUNK THIS PIECE OF SHIT?

 

[adsm08]

Well, if you screwed with it, and now it doesn't work, its not a piece of shit, you just have a few loose screws behind the wheel.

If you screwed with the timing, go buy a light. If you have a carbed engine that gives hard starts in cold weather and your first guess is timing, you aren't good enough to try adjusting the timing without a light. Go buy a light, fix your timing, and don't touch in again if that gun isn't hooked up and in your hand.

Does your choke work? Are you sure your choke works? Go back and check to see that your choke actually works, this sounds like a choke problem.

When was the last time your carb was adjusted?

What kind of timing light are you buying for $100?!? It better adjust the timing for you at that price. An Actron unit is $35 and will be fine for you.

I have a very practiced ear from many ignition overhauls and other various jobs requiring the removal of the distributor. I can only get the timing close, not close enough to try and drive it, without a light. If it was an emergency your could probably drive one that I time by ear, but its not nearly as good as doing it with the light.

Remember, to time it, mark the 10* line on the crank pulley with white chalk or paint, get it up to temp, pull off the vacuum advance, and hold a finger over the line. Then adjust the timing. You only need to move the dis a little bit to make a big difference in the timing.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yeah... don't screw with the timing... if it worked fine and started up fine before theres no reason to touch the timing really. Especially with the 2.8L... The carbs probably acting up. It probably needs a good rebuild and tuning. I have a 2.8L that had problems like that and first off I put a manual choke on it and that helped ALOT! I'm not kidding. Plugging it in helps although 45's not cold... I started having problems around 20. Another thing you might wanna concider is the Duraspark Conversion to get rid of the wires and vacuum tubes all over the place. I did it and it runs a million times better and with a fresh carb on top the thing will start up first time in 0 degree weather.

 

[adsm08]

I had a carbed chevy 3.8 in my 78 olds. That carb was leaky, needed body seals, screw seals, everything. It always started right up. Always ran rich, but she always started with. Loved that electric choke.