The timing changed as I was pulling out of the driveway yesterday.

I coasted to the curb, put a timing light on it and made had to adjust the timing to get the engine to fire up. Which it did, and I drove it for the errands I needed.

So that evening, I pulled the distributor, and it looks perfect. The gear is perfect, the rotor, cap, etc. all look fine. I set it in place and re-set the timing.

I'm wondering and how is this possible?

Also, if I wanted to purchase a new/manufacturer distributor, what years will fit my 225. It's a 1970 225 engine.

Thanks

How many degrees did it change? A worn out timing chain can cause this symptom.
How many miles on the engine?
Was the hold down bolt loose?
There are (2) of them, the one you see on the block and the one under the distributor.

_________________
Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

Engine was rebuilt about 2 years ago, and I guessing it has about 15,000 on it.

Both bolts were tight.

Not sure how far off the timing was. I had to play with the distributor with one hand while holding my home-made starter switch with the other hand until it fired up and then I could pick up the timing gun.

Interesting occurrence. Everything's OK with the rotor? It's not partly broken or anything?

Any year slant-6 distributor will fit any year slant-6 engine, but you need to specify what kind of distributor you're after. If you haven't already converted to electronic ignition, this is a good opportunity to do so...

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

After check to insure it was receiving gas, I put my modified double head nail in a pulled plug wire and I was receiving a good spark.

I still pulled the cap and looked at the rotor. It looked good. It wouldn't start up until I adjusted the timing.

When I rebuilt the engine, I put in the Pertronix electronic ignition.

I think next would be, if it's 38 years old, you might have to pull it apart and clean the old grease and road crud out of things, and make sure the weights move freely and return easily....

-D.Idiot

I ordered a re manufactured distributor from Autozone yesterday which I'll use while I dissect the current one.

At this point, I really want to know why the timing changed? I'm a bit nervous every time I drive wondering if this situation will happen again. I keep a 7/16 and timing gun in the trunk.

Thanks for the advise and suggestions.

Oof...never buy parts from Autozone if you can possibly avoid it (everything they sell is trash, except name-brand oil and the like), and never buy "remanufactured" parts from anyone if you can possibly avoid it, for they're often worse than the worn-out parts you're trying to replace. The distributor from Autogroan might work OK as a "get-by" unit, but I surely would not rely on it in the long run.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

So, from whom should I purchase a new distributor? I couldn't find any new available.

I found the same part number and re manufacture name at Autozone, and Rock auto.

Its pricey ut mallory has one for a 225 for around 375 .

_________________
it's like a vw, sounds like a million miles an hour but goes really slow. (for now)

Well, if you're interested in putting in a new Chrysler electronic distributor (moving away from the Pertronix setup in a points distributor), that's an easy find. I see new points-type distributors go by on eBay regularly...often the same one again and again, 'cause everyone wants to buy an electronic distributor rather than a points item!

Here's one, and here's another.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Could a loose timing chain have jumped a tooth?

_________________
"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

When you rebuilt the engine did you use a nylon timing gear or steal? In nylon, they could have slipped.....or gotten sloppy if you had a few backfires.

_________________
Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

Thanks, I was able to cancel my Autozone order and purchase the distributor you referenced in you post.

The chain is steel. It seems very unlikely that the chain could have jumped a tooth. But, it's possible.

The chains are all steel. Ted was talking about the teeth on the cam sprocket. Original-equipment cam sprockets had nylon teeth over an aluminum hub from 1967 through the end of slant-6 production. They aren't fragile, they just last fewer decades than steel cam sprockets, is all.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.