How do I fix timing on old's 307

 

What do you mean by fix? If you mean adjust, you need to get a timing light. Also find the timing spec for your car and set it to it. If you have a non stock engine, you may have to try different timings, to get it to run good. 36 total works good on a Olds.

 

Thanks man I'll put it to the test let u know what the out come was. Haha it took you 1 reply in the newbie section I got 27 hahah lol thanks for quick to the point response

 

Forgive me New to this when u say 36 I know that pertaining to the timing but what does 36 actually mean like 36 count on the teeth or what

 

36° of total timing. To measure this you will either need a timing tape on the harmonic balancer or a dial back timing light to be able to read the timing mark against the timing tab. You check the reading while revving the engine to the point where it stops advancing the timing mark and check it then.

 

Ok cool thanks I will jump on that

 

What year Cutlass? All the US cars had CCC and need the computer advance disabled before setting the timing.

 

1984 It was a 4.3 but supposedly they did a 307 swap I'm checking numbers tomorrow to make sure it is a 307 so right now I'm at a stand still

 

The eighth character of the VIN will tell you what engine it was born with. The only 4.3 offered in 1984 was the V6 diesel, which would have either a "T" or "V" in the eighth position of the VIN. An original 307 car would have had a "Y". If this car was converted to gas from diesel, that would explain a lot of your questions.

 

Good to hear you are checking numbers along with investigating exactly what you have under the hood on your 1984 cutlass. You will find that the 27 posts in the newbie section were in fact helping you to get to where you are now. " A stand still" until further information can be posted.
Cheers
Eric

 

Its at a stand still cuz I work 50 plus hrs I don't have all the time in the world like I would like to have I would be checking numbers now but I'm at work found a gas leak under the hood late last night I'm steady picking away at it I got a expert on engines down the road helping as well we also found out that my distributor is a centrifugal distributor instead of vacuum

 

No, it has an electronic advance due to it being computer controlled. GM never made an HEI that was purely mechanical. They either used a vacuum advance or they were computer controlled.

Vacuum:
DSC01582.jpg

Computer controlled (this also shows the computer controlled carb)

2012-09-18114533.jpg

 

If it is not a CCC system (computer controlled advance), it should have both centrifugal advance weights AND a vacuum advance canister. So it sounds as if you have a standard mechanical (non-CCC) distributor.

 

There is no computer I'm thinking this is something the past owner decided to do in a get most answers tomorrow I'll let y'all know I'm going elbows deep tomorrow I'm thinking past owner just threw **** together in till it cranked lol it's a mess hoses out of place running weird ways a lot I'm not using I am to moving a lot tomorrow

 

I get the feeling that you think we are trying to steer you down the wrong path, which is definitely not the case. We are going on years of experience from multiple sources.
I, myself, have been into Oldmobiles since 1986. I have owned quite a few and worked on many more. I have also been in the auto parts business on and off for more than 20 years with at least 15 years behind a parts counter.
I can tell you, without a doubt, that your car came out of the factory with a computer. It had a computer controlled carburetor and distributor along with the transmission being computer controlled. You A/C will not function without the computer being hooked up either.
I am not telling you this to get you mad, just letting you know where I, and others, are coming from.
We can't help you if we don't have all of the facts. Without good documentation of what you actually have, all we can do is use our experience to give you the best advice for the given information.
Also, the 260 was discontinued after the 1981 model year so your car did not come with that engine from the factory.
The most likely scenario is that the previous owner messed it up and tried to dump it because he didn't know what he was doing.
Trust me when I was that all we are doing is trying to help you. If you can get some good pictures of what you actually have, that would help us greatly in trying to diagnose your issue.

Good luck and I really do hope we can help you.

 

I bet someone tossed a CCC 307 in your car as is. If so, it will have squat for advance and be pig rich. Only us Canuck's got non CCC 307's till 86 except for the Hurst/Olds and 442. I have been playing with Olds since the early 90's, ran a hell of a lot better than my old 77 Dodge van.

 

Look, we're all guessing right now. If the OP can post a photo or two, it will allow us to provide much more useful info. The 4.3 diesel V6 was factory available in 1984. If this is a diesel car converted to a gas 307, we have no idea what carb and distributor were used until we see photos.

 

That is an excellent point Mr. Joe. Does it say DIESEL on the fuel gauge?