87 mr2 timing issues

mr2Nparadise · 09-16-2007, 10:12 PM

Hey all,

I am working on an 87 4age and am having issues with the timing. i do not have a timing gun and have been making adjustments as I go along. I have run into a bump in the road. I can not get the engine to fire up. It will turn over just fine.
Could someone help me with the firing order and any tips that might make my baby run again. I recently did a transplant on the engine. I took the block from a corolla gts and transplanted. I have switched everything over and got the engine back in place. The only thing I'm having trouble with is this timing.

Gairloch · 09-17-2007, 04:05 AM

I just listened to TomsMR2 tell someone how to take care of this problem in the chat room but damned if I can remember exactly what the process is.

I do remember that apparently with the 4age distributor it's possible for it to become mis-aligned and you have to test each possible position for it in order to find the place where the motor will fire. I also remember that there are 36 teeth in there.

I'm sure someone can fill in the (rather large) blanks.

hosh · 09-17-2007, 08:33 AM

Pull your distributor, align the marks and make sure your at top dead center, then VERY carefully reinstall. If your not carefull it will rotate one tooth and you will never get it to run right if it will start at all (It happened on my project car to). I would suggest buying a timing light. Even a cheap non adjustable one like i have is lightyears ahead of timing by ear.

09-16-2007, 10:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
mr2Nparadise mr2n4life Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern California Posts: 32 Thanks: 9 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	87 mr2 timing issues Hey all, I am working on an 87 4age and am having issues with the timing. i do not have a timing gun and have been making adjustments as I go along. I have run into a bump in the road. I can not get the engine to fire up. It will turn over just fine. Could someone help me with the firing order and any tips that might make my baby run again. I recently did a transplant on the engine. I took the block from a corolla gts and transplanted. I have switched everything over and got the engine back in place. The only thing I'm having trouble with is this timing.

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09-17-2007, 04:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 5,313 Thanks: 139 Thanked 296 Times in 264 Posts Blog Entries: 4 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	I just listened to TomsMR2 tell someone how to take care of this problem in the chat room but damned if I can remember exactly what the process is. I do remember that apparently with the 4age distributor it's possible for it to become mis-aligned and you have to test each possible position for it in order to find the place where the motor will fire. I also remember that there are 36 teeth in there. I'm sure someone can fill in the (rather large) blanks.

09-17-2007, 08:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
hosh to many yotas, never! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: skiatook, ok Posts: 75 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Pull your distributor, align the marks and make sure your at top dead center, then VERY carefully reinstall. If your not carefull it will rotate one tooth and you will never get it to run right if it will start at all (It happened on my project car to). I would suggest buying a timing light. Even a cheap non adjustable one like i have is lightyears ahead of timing by ear.