vac and timing

[redwoody]

Long story short the vac at warm idle and vac can unhooked is around 14-15 and unsteady. i have all vacuum lines pluged even vac ball at back of engine that controls heat and a/c doors. Unhooked pwr booster no change. I have an Actron digital light that says my initial is around 32 deg idling at 700. Yea that is crazy. I hooked lead to #8 and 2, timing mark is closer to #1.Assuming light is malfunctioning. It starts and revs good. Used more than a can of carb clean. egr has not been hooked to vac. Original iron intake 2v is there any leaks possible within carb or intake. Thx

[wiley-moeracing]

Can have vacuum leaks at the base of the carb, throttle shaft or intake gasket leaking below. You can also have engine issues causing the unsteady vacuum reading. your timing light is broken or you have it hooked up wrong or the dampner has moved on the pulley giving incorrect readings.

[redwoody]

I was thinking if damper moved that much the rubber would be pretty distorted and would have vibration. Just changed carb gskt and i noticed 2 in of hg better but still shaky. Next morn had it warmed up and i lost that 2 in. It just likes bouncing around 14 or 15.

[wiley-moeracing]

Sounds like you may have a valve seat issue, test compression and leak down. The dampner can move with out distorting the rubber and you will not feel a vibration. to check you will need to find you true tdc.

[MysticRob]

...I hooked lead to #8 and 2, timing mark is closer to #1.Assuming malfunctioning. It starts and revs good. Used more than a can of carb clean. egr has not been hooked to vac. Original iron intake 2v is there any leaks possible within carb or intake...

Your post is difficult to understand, but it sounds like you don't have the timing light on the #1 cylinder spark plug wire, which in all my reading is the proper method on every engine. Since the engine starts and runs well I'd say that's more likely than anything else. And yes, there are multiple ports, and ways, in which vacuum leaks can occur both externally and internally on intakes, vacuum hoses, and carbs, especially on an 88.

[redwoody]

Borrowed a timing light shows the same thing. So my dampner must have moved. Also found leaking power valve.

[redwoody]

All 8 cyl are 125 - 135psi.

[wiley-moeracing]

You need to try a leak down test to verify the valves are sealing.

[Tanker]

I have 2 harmonic dampeners one new one old.The old one is 45 degrees off still looks good,runs great just off a bit The new one is 180 off runs funny though. Just saying

[redwoody]

replaced balancer w/oreilly warranty. Its 48* off. Physically bring #1 tdc and balancer is on mark. I have a much bigger issue. Young guy made a left in front of me. I think its totalled. Had her for 19 yrs.

[Rusty76]

Oh boy
Sorry to hear that

[fulsizjeep]

I have seen vacuum leaks bounce the vacuum gauge needle, but I have also seen this when the aluminum rocker bridges are badly worn.

[redwoody]

Im thinking the carb is not tight. I got 2 in of vac replacing power valve. But that all feels like another life.