I am wondering if my chain could be off by one tooth or mark? these are my conditions.
The distributer is all the way to one dirction to be timed correctly.
I have to nurse the throttle when in gear to get rpms.
usually is better once warmed up. does have a delay.
my suspision the distibuter all the way ove for it to be timed.
could mt timing chain be off a tooth?

 

more likely someone pulled the oil pump and didn't install it in the correct orientation.
you can look at the timing chain marks to verify that it is correct.

 

Timing chain stretch can become an issue with high mileage. But as Roger stated, it's a common rookie mistake to misalign the distributor / oil pump shaft.

Hey, I even have a guide for that. Click: https://www.zdriver.com/forums/280zx...-timing-40948/

 

so if the oil pump is off and installed incorect, the groove for moving the distibuter is off. then you cant go advance or retatard full range?

 

Correcto.

 

thank you! confession, i am the one who installed pump.

 

Information that would have been useful in first post.

 

I have a 1983 280ZX coupe and I know for a fact the timing chain has NEVER been replaced. It’s got 255,000 miles and runs strong. I’d hate to blow a good engine on a failed chain. Does anyone know the cost of such a job and the availability of parts?