Timing off and won't pass Smog :(

[WingZr0]

Bought a timing Gun and found out theres no timing mark on my 77 280Z > .

Am I missing something and where is the engine ground to connect the Black Clip of the timing Gun to?

Was told my timing is 4 degress and it should be 10 according to the smog guy. It's 6 degress off.

Motor is L28 build date 10/76 4 speed.

I'm hopping getting the timing right will let me pass smog. The Hydrocarbons are 2,000 when it's only

allowed 150.

Below is a copy of my failed smog test.

The Smog guy "said" the catalytic converter is fine. I dont knowhow he camt that conclusion since

all he did was stick a sensor up it's pipe.

Please help if u can.

Thyanx ~Z~

Edited June 22, 2012 by WingZr0

[WingZr0]

O yeah and she's running rich on gas.

This being a FI engine, not carburated, how do I fix that problem???

[darom]

Check this thread out:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/thread44098.html

You will need to download your car's Factory Service Manual and the Bosch Fuel Injection "bible". Your timing won't fix the smog failure. Most likely, these are possible areas:

- Fuel pump + fuel pressure regulator = need to know the fuel pressure (PSI)

- AFM

- Water temp sensor (t-stat housing)

- ECU (unlikely) etc.

You will need to get a multimeter and start checking the resistance at the ECU plug. The EFI "bible" will walk you through.

Good luck!

Post your findings as you go.

[WingZr0]

Thank brother and will do.

None of the smog stuff has been checked or replaced by me so all

that related stuff may be the smog cause also.

The timing though must be fixed immediately, but my last question is

if my ditrubutor has been installed 180 degress off will that effect how I

need to hook up or read the timing gun light?

[WingZr0]

Oh and where can I donwload the 77 FSM and BFIB please?

Thyanx a bounch.

[darom]

Here is the main link:

http://www.xenons30.com/reference.html

Blue's excellent resources:

http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/electricalconnections/index.html

Fuel Injection Bible:

http://www.xenons130.com/files/280zfuelinjectionbook.pdf

You should research the smog issues on this site as well as on zcar.com and hybridz.org

Regards!

PS re: distributor

If you car runs without backfiring, I doubt your distributor is installed 180* off. Blue's site will have the setting timing procedure:

http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/timing/index.html

To sum it up: you have a long journey ahead of you to pass the smog. Read as much as you can to better understand your car.

Edited June 22, 2012 by darom

[rcb280z]

Start with the timing adjustment and have him put the "sniffer" in the exhaust to measure emissions and see what the results are before you do anything else. It may just be the timing is off. 6 degrees is a lot and will change everything.

[WingZr0]

Thyanx for the links and info. set number one spark cylinder to top dead center and saw the crank pulley Mark was at -5 regress with the can turned off Started the car again and timing. was +5 degrees . Advanced the distributor. to +10 regress on the timing belt and she ran way better. Hoping this solves the issue, if not then I was told my throttle body sensor may be off or so. At +5. regress she was backfiring through the Air Flow Meter pretty badly but now not so much unless I'm at cold start which it takes about 3 tries to start. Well to sum it up at +10 she sounds fine but at +15 she sound better. Right now I'm leaving her at +10.

[grantf]

Leave it at + 10 for now but as many have stated 5 deg advance is normal for a smooth running engine.