Let me preface this by saying that I am an idiot.

We all have lapses of concentration, and this was one of them.  While
working on my '85 van the other weekend, replacing distributor cap, rotor,
plugs, and various sundry items, I noticed that the distributor was "loose."
  Wait, don't jump on me yet.  The idiocy reveals itself if you wait.

Anyway, the distributor could be turned, about a quarter turn in either
direction.  Unfortunately, I'm not sure where it was originally as I moved
it the first time accidentally when replacing the cap.  So anyway, I thought
"that's strange", tightened the bolt at the base a little, and the
distributor no longer moved.

When I started the car, it sounded much better than it had been as the plugs
were garbage and the cap was quite worn.  But i noticed that it didn't quite
seem to be running as smoothly as it had been - or at least it wasn't smooth
in a new and different way.  It was only then that I realized that I am a
(insert expletive here) moron and that what I was inadvertantly playing with
was the timing.

Am I right?

Despite my display of ineptitude, I am usually pretty good with these things
and figure I can fix it myself.  The question is...How.  I browsed the
archives, but I couldn't find the exact answer I was looking for.

Unfortuntely I own none of the service manuals for the car as the last
couple of years it has been sorely neglected (sad - well, there's always
Christmas).  I am trying to remedy restore the van to its former glory, but
I need your help.

I assume I need a timing light, but what exactly is the degree before/after
TDC and what else should I know.

Or am I totally wrong and my distributor was just loose.

idiocy?  you're soaking in it!
Connal

cmmhughes@hotmail.com

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