1977-79 231 even fire timing issues
03-27-2018, 03:42 PM
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1977-79 231 even fire timing issues
Hello, everyone! I'm new here and I came looking to hopefully find some answers.... I have a 77-78 Buick 3.8 v6 that I'm having timing issues with and there isn't much info on it! I can't seem to get it running right.. it seems the timing is off just a bit.. it idles ok but when you get on the gas it backfires bad and has no power!
03-28-2018, 02:13 PM
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Hello, everyone! I'm new here and I came looking to hopefully find some answers.... I have a 77-78 Buick 3.8 v6 that I'm having timing issues with and there isn't much info on it! I can't seem to get it running right.. it seems the timing is off just a bit.. it idles ok but when you get on the gas it backfires bad and has no power!
Second, disconnect the vacuum advance and plug the hose and see if your behavior changes.
How do the spark plugs look?
Have you owned this for a while and it started doing this or dod you recently acquire it and this problem came with it.
Any other history will be helpful.
How is the air cleaner doing?
How is the carburetor doing?
Is the engine bone stock, pulled from a car and dropped in a boat, or is it modified in any way?
03-29-2018, 05:51 PM
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03-29-2018, 05:54 PM
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After doing some research I’m starting to think it’* the wrong distributor or wrong cap. I read that if it has a V8 cap with two posts blocked off it was for an odd fire motor. I’m putting a new distributor, wires, and plugs on it today followed by a timing lite.. hopefully I can get somewhere with it soon. If you guys have anymore questions please ask!
03-30-2018, 06:36 PM
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After doing some research I’m starting to think it’* the wrong distributor or wrong cap. I read that if it has a V8 cap with two posts blocked off it was for an odd fire motor. I’m putting a new distributor, wires, and plugs on it today followed by a timing lite.. hopefully I can get somewhere with it soon. If you guys have anymore questions please ask!
04-03-2018, 09:14 AM
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Thanks for the input guys. I figured out the problem! the original owner changed the cam and and a few other things and apparently it changed the firing order.. I got the bout running great. I’m getting about 2900 rpm with it in the trailer at full throttle. Now I’m looking into maybe adding some power. Any suggestions?
04-03-2018, 06:27 PM
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Buick 350?
Should bolt right up.
. . . or . . .
Depending on how far you want to go:
- Baffle the back half of the air filter assembly, propeller creating a vacuum behind it isn't helping any
- Tune-up if you don't know the status of plugs/wires/cap/rotor
- Bigger carb (might need new intake manifold)
- Slightly less-severe propeller (might allow RPM to come up more)
- Intake manifold (might be needed with bigger carb)
- Heads
- Turbocharge
- Bottom-end upgrades sore/stroke/balance/compression ratio
- etc . . .
Should bolt right up.
. . . or . . .
Depending on how far you want to go:
- Baffle the back half of the air filter assembly, propeller creating a vacuum behind it isn't helping any
- Tune-up if you don't know the status of plugs/wires/cap/rotor
- Bigger carb (might need new intake manifold)
- Slightly less-severe propeller (might allow RPM to come up more)
- Intake manifold (might be needed with bigger carb)
- Heads
- Turbocharge
- Bottom-end upgrades sore/stroke/balance/compression ratio
- etc . . .
Last edited by CathedralCub; 04-03-2018 at 06:28 PM. Reason: Turned quote into an excerpt