Hey guys,

Just got my first 300zx NA (former 83 280zx owner). It was running great, then I decided to do a tune-up .

In taking off the distributor cap screws, one of them snapped off in the distributor body. Without taking much caution, I pulled the distributor, and got the screw out. I should have noted/marked the rotor position, but I goofed.

Anyway, I looked online, found the FSM, got the crank pulley timing marks figured out, noted where the rotor should point at TDC, and thought I had it correct, but it's still retarded. I tried rotating the distributor counterclockwise one tooth, to advance timing a bit, and it runs worse. When I put the timing light on it, the mark is moving all over, and the car is firing irregularly.

What I did was remove plug #1 and stuff a towel in there, and bump the engine until it was on compression stroke. Then I lined up the first timing mark with the pointer, and placed the rotor just past "12:00" when standing at the driver's side fender.

Did I miss something? Spent a lot of time moving the distributor back and forth, and couldn't quite get it running right again.

Thanks

Steve

 

if jumping all over the place sounds like something is loose. did you pull the whole dizzy? wiggle the rotor it shouldn't move but a little. Are the spark plug wires going to the correct cylinders. look at the wire from coil to dizzy and see if it is worn or loose. Maybe try TLC not RoughNeck