Symptoms of being a 'tooth off' ????

[grandpaslincoln]

If you had a vac advance, you'd be able to see it sticking out of teh disty. THe adjustment for most advances is inside the housing, normally you'd pull the vac line going to the advance and stick an allen key inside the nipple, usually the adjustment screw is inside there

[Lincolnmania]

there is nothing on your 83 distributor, just plug wires and coil wire, no vac advance no pickup assy........83's have a crankshaft sensor instead they are weird

[Mercracer]

It's controlled by computer signals, but if the mechanics inside the distributor are worn out, the computer can do what it wants and won't make a bit of difference.

All ignition advance is computer controlled. There are NO moving mechanical parts in a EEC-III or EEC-IV distributor. There are no mechanical parts to "wear out". The EEC-IV PIP is fixed in place by the octane rod. The EEC-III uses an external crank position sensor so there is nothing at all in the distributor.

[Mercracer]

hmmm... any one know how to test the electrical advance?? I have a couple spare distributors..

There is nothing to test in the distributor in relation to advance. As it was mentioned, check your base with the SPOUT out, then see what your timing does with the spout back in.

[AOD]

Hey Pete, have you tried running 89 octane in it and see if it knocks and pings the same?

~Adam

[gadget73]

The EEC-IV PIP is fixed in place by the octane rod. .

Octane rod, eh? Just went and looked at the distributor that was originally in my HO motor and it doesn't appear to have a marking on the rod. I see where it is, essentially its a fixed rod that goes where a vacuum advance canister would hook up. I'm idly curious if the 86 lopo and 88 HO engine had a different length rod in there from the factory. Guess I'll have to see if the engineering part number sticker is still on the 86 distributor and compare it. The 88 HO dizzy has an E6 number on it tho so I doubt its different.

[85crownHPP]

Hey Pete, have you tried running 89 octane in it and see if it knocks and pings the same?

it doesnt knock - just a little pinging. I run premium fuel to keep it at a minumum.

Im gonna check the base timing agains wht it is with the shout in. Should I be able to verify the timing advance by watching the timing marks while revving it up in park, or does it have to be actually moving for the timing to advance?

[gadget73]

If you just plug the SPOUT in you'll see it advance with it idling. Should see it swing by revving the motor too.