Bunch of KA timing questions that were not shown by searching

[SR20Inside]

I know on the SR20 that there are timing marks on the chain and sprockets but I haven't really been able to find much about this on the KA.

Are there marks on the upper and lower chain or is the upper the only one that needs to be lined up?

Also on the SR20 I know that it doesnt matter if you take the distributor out and put it back in a different way or try to adjust the distributor while the car is running because it has to be in timing mode. Apparently the KA engine you can adjust the timing just by rotating the dristributor while car is on? ALso the KA distributor apparently needs to be lined up a certain way to be in sync with the cams and crank?

[aznpoopy]

Apparently the KA engine you can adjust the timing just by rotating the dristributor while car is on?

yes, but the range of adjustment is limited.

ALso the KA distributor apparently needs to be lined up a certain way to be in sync with the cams and crank?

yes it does. it has a hash mark on it for the purpose of timing.

set the engine to TDC for cylinder #1(based on the crank pulley marks).
then install the distributor with the rotor ready to fire on cylinder #1 (thats what the hash mark indicates.)

plug in the battery, turn the key and pray. you will probably need to fuck around with the distributor alot before you get it to start.

[Indolent]

just adding to what aznpoopy said, i remember messing mine up, had it set to set fire at #1, but it was off, the way to check to make sure #1 is at tdc is to open up your valve cover and check if the front cam lobes are pointed outwards towards the fenders

[Al_S14]

Originally Posted by Indolent

just adding to what aznpoopy said, i remember messing mine up, had it set to set fire at #1, but it was off, the way to check to make sure #1 is at tdc is to open up your valve cover and check if the front cam lobes are pointed outwards towards the fenders

yeah you can be 180 degrees out so if it donesnt start just crank the engine over again to TDC then put distributor back in

on upper chain there are Grey marks for cam gears and yellow marks for crank and that big ass gear in center.

[NemeGuero]

all this info is in the FSM

[SR20Inside]

Alright so here goes, I installed the ebay lightened pulley while I replaced all the guides and tensioners. I took the valve cover off and put the cams to 12 oclock and 2 oclock and then took the distributor out and put that to point to cylinder #1 like the instructions from here... http://www.240sx.org/faq/articles/timing101.htm. Try to start the car and it wont start... But if my friend has the distributor unplugged and he pushes all the way to the right and then i start cranking it and he plugs in the plug into the distributor itll start up and idle somewhat decent at 700rpms or so but when I push the gas in it dies.

Not sure what to do at this point if anyone has any suggestions...

BTW the FSM I downloaded from sr20forum.com for the 240sx doesn't have any of this information

[NemeGuero]

do the timing marks on the chain line up with the idler and crank? you are aware that there are 2 TDCs per cycle... line up both chains.. set to TDC where both first cam lobes are out.. then retry the distributor.

it helps to rotate it back before you slip in the geared part to compensate for the re-alignment.. just make sure its ready to fire at #1 when you get it in. If you're off by a tooth it won't start.

and my FSM has this info.. search on here for the available downloads.

[Al_S14]

i had chain jump on me 2ce on an engine stand when i was rotaing it backwards with all timing parts on so i wouldnt do that.

[NemeGuero]

I meant rotating the distributor gear backward so when you slide it in and it rotates forward to align with the idler gear that it is set at the proper position... took me a few tries to get it right the first time I did this