I finally have the 72 running today so that it does not die after a few seconds:classic: the only problem is i have the distributor turned as far as it can go towards the retarded side:confused: I don't know if this is an indication that the timing chain is completly off or if i have something else wrong. I tried moving all of the plug wires so that i could put the distributor more on the advanced side but it was a no go. The car seems to be running great as it is, but it worries me that it is completly retarded and leaves no room for change. Any advice would be greatly apprieciated.

Thanks!

Sounds like the oil pump drive is off by a tooth. Either that, or you have the wrong distributor support pedestal for the dizzy you are using.

If you've used BOTH adjustments on the distributor (10mm bolt and 8mm bolt IIRC) then you'll have to reclock the distributor shaft where it plugs into the oil pump drive. Disconnect the sway bar from the frame rail, pull the pump off, pull the shaft out, rotate it one tooth and put it back in. This procedure is a LOT easier if you have someone on top to tell you if you hit it right. Since the teeth are helical it's hard to judge if you've moved it to the right position. If you have a helper you can have the cap off and a mark approximately where you want it to be, and then the helper can just tell you if it's right or not.

Thanks so much... I have only adjusted with the 10mm bolt so I will look for the 8mm bolt tomorrow when i get a break from work. Any sage advice on adjusting it? Thanks again in advance

you dont realy hafe to drop the sway bar you just hafe to spin the shaft with a scribe

you dont realy hafe to drop the sway bar you just hafe to spin the shaft with a scribe

Does that equal 'you don't really have to drop the swaybar, you just have to spin the shaft with a scribe'? What's a scribe?

A pointy screwdriver.