if dizzy is off by a tooth but motor is timed, how will it run??

[deadboy1977]

I am thinking my dizzy in my 95RRCLWB may be off a tooth. As is now when I time the engine to 8 BTDC it idles rough, seems like its missing, etc. When I drive it its obviously hard to detect a miss. If I rev the motor as I put my hand on the plenum, I feel a miss type jump on the plenum up to a certain point, maybe 2500RPMS or so. I then retard the timing to ZERO or even 2 ATDC and the idle is MUCH better although not perfect. There is still a miss, sputter out of the exhaust, etc. Since the idle is the way it is, code 48s pop every now and then as the IAC cannot find the right spot. I replaced the stepper and it made things better but not perfect. All the basic remedies have been done - flame trap, dizzy cap/rotor/wires, etc. so no need to go there.

Is this at all indicative of the dizzy being off a tooth? If so, since it runs better being retarded, which way would you rotate the dizzy gear, 1 tooth reverse clockwise? I know some will say to check the #1 piston, etc. but I want to try the dizzy move first so humor me...

[TerryS]

If you are able to get the timing mark to 8 degrees BTDC, with the engine running at about 750-800 rpm, it doesn't make much difference if your distributor was put in one tooth off. The only problem that occurs when its a tooth out is that the vacuum advance unit will be right up against the thermostat housing. One tooth off the other way puts the advance unit right up to the back of the waterpump.
8 degrees BTDC and the engine should idle ok, and not lumpy. It will alwayss sound like it's idling better as you retard it, but you'll (a) get way less power, and (b) the engine temp will go way up, overheat the cats, and stand a good chance of burning an exhaust valve.
When you replaced the stepper servo, did you thoroughly clean the valve seat? Did you only replace the servo with valve plunger, and leave the valve body, with seat, from the old one still attached to the plenum housing? You may have a mismatch between plunger and seat.
FWIW, the manual may look for 8 degrees, but I run the 4.2 in my 110 at 10 degrees advanced. I just have to remember to dial it back at emmissions testing time, as HC & CO up the further advanced you go.

[deadboy1977]

Mine will BARELY RUN/IDLE at 10. I ordered a new stepper, cleaned the seat that the pintle rests on in the plenum and actually had the plenum off completely and cleaned it all out not long ago - the flame trap circuit, whole IAC circuit, etc. I wish I knew someone in VA where I live that could look at it and hook it up to a scope or something....

[Rovin4life]

how is the compression and fuel pressure