thanx to everone that helped me out getting this zc to run...now it`s running but i`ve got this backfire happen every once and a wile from low rpms it`s fine a 3000 and over but when it sits at 1000 or so then i hit it it pops through the intake... is my timing out?? i tryed to change it but it still does it but not all the time. i`ve got to get a throdle cable so it with run a bit better but just not sure. and how do i set the timing on this can i use a timing light if so where is the timing mark. oh and i dont know if it makes any differance but i put a shorty intake on it.. maybe to much air??

and holly crap does it sound meaner than the old 1.5 did have`nt drove it still have axle problems to deal with...

 

-ign timing marks on the timing belt cover... right above the crank pulley...
-just clip on the gun and sight down them and turn the dist until you get the center mark of the 3 on the pulley
-you might want to clean off the marks first with sandpaper so you can see them
-no its not your intake
-But the actual problem is probably that your timing belt is off a tooth or two... which means u get to take off the cover and have fun...

hth

 

is the timing mark being off a comon thing with these motors. and i checked my timimg marks on my cams and they were on..

 

on my zc... i can just barely set the ignition timing to spec. I have to advance it all the way... anybody else liek that??? Also, wehn checking your ignition timing, make sure that the motor is up to operating temperature because when its cold, the timing is automatically advanced. Another thing to note is, you are supposed to connect this clip thing (i swear that's waht its called) under the dash on the passenger side of the car, with a little jumper wire. I've done this, but noticed no difference whatsoever in the ignition timing... so I don't know if i did that right. can anybody else help?

 

People get ZC cam timing off sometimes because of the marks need to be pointing slightly in. People often try to get them both point up which isn't possible, or both pointing the same direction (either slightly up or back).

I can't get my ZC to advance on ign timing either. It is all of the way advanced on the dist and the timing is dead on.

 

what clip thing.?? i`never herd anything about a clipthing..... on my cam gears they have to up mark (that i put up)and i just line them up the marks in the middle. it was on... so i didn`t have to move them but it don`t look that hard. now whats with the clip thing . my car seems like a vacuum problem.. but i think i got everything. can`t find anything that i could have missed.

 

ok, this is straight out of my haynes manual, chapter 1: Tune-up and routine maintenence, section 34 Ignition timing check and adjustment.

"On 1988 and later (thru 91), you must connect a jumper wire between the two terminals (brown and green/white wires) of the ignition timing adjuster connector. On 1988 and 1989 models, this connector is at the left rear corner of the engine compartment; you must remove a yellow rubber cap from the connector before hooking up the jumper wire. On 1990 and later models, the connector is located under the right side of the dash."

So that's what i was talking about. find the connector with brown and green/white wires, and add a jumper wire before trying to adjust your ignition timing. I hope that helps...

 

as for the cam timing, there's multiple ways to check to make sure they're all aligned properly. Of course there's the "up" reference arrows, and the lines on the side of the cam gears that are supposed to line up with the head. But also, with your valve cover off, look down at the tops of the cams. There are holes on the cam gears themselves, and there are also matching holes in the camshafts. These should line up.

 

ok i found the jumper thing will try it latter.thanx now if i can get so axles i`d be doing great! oh ya what is that jumper thing do.. anyone know

 

i got my cams both pointing at the up position. its not really hard to do, you just need a friend to help you out.

 

It's impossile to have them pointing both stright up like (marks) | |. People often try to get the up lines parallel to each other which is wrong. They should be like / \ (only not near that extreme). You can see this by the other marks on the gear. It isn't difficult or anything, it's just a common mistake. The best way is to use the holes in the cam.

What people often do when trying to get the gears parallel to each other is they have them either / / or \ \ (again, not to that extreme of an angle) and then one of the gears is off by a tooth. I did it once, and the car seemed to idle fine. It felt like it had gobs of top end power and no torqe.