Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 2004 21:38:41 -0400
Reply-To:     jesse johnson <jjmojo@BLAZENET.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         jesse johnson <jjmojo@BLAZENET.NET>
Subject:      Update on the New Engine Timing Issue....And finally idle problem
              solved.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hey Everyone,
First I want to thank everyone for taking time to email me and give me 

advice on my timing issue on my new engine.
I am not sure who on the list suggested it .. but i pulled the valve 
covers to make sure i had the engine set at top dead center for the 
number one cylinder. I did based upon the distributor drive gear. But 
when i had the valve covers off.. i noticed that as i spun the engine.. 

after TDC the exhaust valve should open on the next go around for 
cylinder number 1. But of course.. the intake valve opened! So the 
engine was trying to fire number one when number 3 should have been 
firing.
So the deal is.. the engine builder stuck the dizzy drive gear in 
backwards! So i had done a bit of repair work on the wiring for the 
hall sender.. and it was a bit longer than stock.. so i could flip the 

distributor backwards as a fix for now.. until i get a puller for the 
drive gear. The first crank it fired right up! Needless to say i was 
happy. I never thought it would have been the builder screwing things 
up. Lets hope he did a better job on the rest of the engine!
And finally.. if any of you remember back in the winter/spring.. i was 

having a stalling engine and a rich running problem. At the time.. all 

fuel injection parts checked out fine and i was at a loss.. well when i 

open the old engine after i pulled it, the exhaust valve on the number 

two cylinder was just about cut in half from not seating properly on 
the head! So i am sure i was only getting maybe 30 pounds of 
compression on that cylinder.. and it was not burning the fuel 
correctly throwing everything off. Funny thing is.. this is the head 
the PO before me replaced! IT only had like 8,000 miles on it maybe. 
The other head was original and had 167,000 miles on it.. valves were 
fine.. go figure.
Drove the van to a wedding today... It pulled like a mule and was super 

smooth! Plus i have a new tranny and it shifts like butter! I had the 
injectors sent off to www.injector.com. They cleaned and balanced 
them... I cannot say enough about having clean injectors that are 
balanced. What a difference on start up and idle... very nice people to 

deal with.
Thanks Again Everyone,
jesse
89 carat with new engine and trans... glad i did not jump it off the 
cliff like i wanted too ; ¬ )