Distributor gear woes? Maybe???

Yes you can put the gear on 1/2 tooth off, but if you can adjust the dist housing by turning it (just like setting the timing) it doesn't matter. If you look at the pin holes in the gear you will most likely see a hole on one side in the middle of the teeth, on the other lined up on the tooth...You can adjust the timing on this engine right? Have you checked the timing?

Timing is really hard to adjust on this. Not much room between the plenium for the fuel injaction and the distributor. With the electronic ignition on this I think by the time I get it sounding good I get the check light. Was told this cam would idle similar to the stock one. Figured a bit of a thump but not that big of a difference in timing! (It's from a ZZ502 crate motor!)

Dude, you had the dist out, you must set the timing. If you marked the dist then put it back to the marks the gear can throw you off too .....Set the timing to factory specs and then drive it a bit to let the ECM relearn.

Set the distributor back where it was after I rotated the gear. I can see the timing mark finally. Somebody mentioned about unplugging a wire before you try setting the timing. Any idea what wire? Where it might be? What color even!??

look for a tan wire with a black stripe, with a small black plug. Near where the ECM harness goes through the dash under the hood, pass side. It used to be under a black plastic cover there on the firewall, not sure if your 96 is the same way though.

Thanks I'll give that a go tomorrow. Putting the truck back in the garage then. Have all night to work on it!

Well, I'm at a loss. Everything is set in place but I can't get it to idle properly. The computer keeps trying to pull back the timing to TDC marker. And it will not let it idle,(When it does), over 650 rpm. I keep getting a P1345 error code. When it's warmed up you have to crank the dickens out of it to start it to. Did I line up the distributor gear wrong? Could I have messed up the crank sensor? This is driving me nuts! I like my truck alot but am starting to wonder!!!

Well, I'm at a loss. Everything is set in place but I can't get it to idle properly. The computer keeps trying to pull back the timing to TDC marker. And it will not let it idle,(When it does), over 650 rpm. I keep getting a P1345 error code. When it's warmed up you have to crank the dickens out of it to start it to. Did I line up the distributor gear wrong? Could I have messed up the crank sensor? This is driving me nuts! I like my truck alot but am starting to wonder!!!

Sounds like the dist in not right(1345 code). If I were you I would buy a book and set the dist to exactly what it says. We don't even know if the timing is adjustable....Do we?

It was the distributor gear. Off 180=BA Picked up a chiltons manual. Actually had a picture of one lined up. Bad thing so far is the guy's garage I was working in decided to "Help" So alot of this stuff I only did half of. Now I just have to figure out the idle mix. The computer controls everything on this truck. But there is an air flow screw on the side of the throttle which holds the butterfly open just ?? much. Unfortunately it got adjusted too. And I'm not sure how far it got turned.So right now it's hit and miss. I'll just carry the adjusting tool with me and try different areas as I go. Next stop would be somewhere to get it retuned if I can't get this one figured out!!

Thanks for all the calming advice Shoe Salesman. You've been a great help with keeping me calm through all this! Also reminds me to not let others mess with my truck who say "They know what it needs" then tell you to come get it cause they can't figure it out!!! :(

It was the distributor gear. Off 180º Picked up a chiltons manual. Actually had a picture of one lined up. Bad thing so far is the guy's garage I was working in decided to "Help" So alot of this stuff I only did half of. Now I just have to figure out the idle mix. The computer controls everything on this truck. But there is an air flow screw on the side of the throttle which holds the butterfly open just ?? much. Unfortunately it got adjusted too. And I'm not sure how far it got turned.So right now it's hit and miss. I'll just carry the adjusting tool with me and try different areas as I go. Next stop would be somewhere to get it retuned if I can't get this one figured out!!

Thanks for all the calming advice Shoe Salesman. You've been a great help with keeping me calm through all this! Also reminds me to not let others mess with my truck who say "They know what it needs" then tell you to come get it cause they can't figure it out!!! :(

But of the problem is the ecm should be reprogramed to rec. a differant size cam shaft

What problem? What the heck are you replying to? Your posts are worthless since you won't post the message you are replying to.

According to Gm Performance plus. There is no difference to the ECM. Once you get the base timing set. The ECM unit has the capability (In the 96 and newer trucks) to find the right seting to the cam. They seem to think I'm either off 1 tooth on the base timing or I have a valve a bit to snug and it's not shutting tight. They recommended resetting the valves first and then working backwards from there if that doesn't do it.