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When I was driving my 73 Electra one day the car started to miss intermittently, then it developed into a constant miss. If I can get the car started it will only run on high idle and will stall in drive or when it drops to low idle.<P>The car has new wires, cap, rotor, and the plugs look good. I also put in a new coil and distributor (which came with new points and a condenser). I know the distributor was installed correctly.What is also odd is that the dwell can jump from 30 degrees to 40 when the idle starts to drop. Also, the car runs better when the timing (with the advance vac hose plugged) is advanced over the scale 20+ degrees. I put a vacuum gauge on it and there was a little flicker.<P>I checked for timing chain deflection ( turn engine one way then another and look at rotor) - seems normal about an inch of play.<P>Checked compression on one side of the engine. All 4 cylinders are at 120 - 130.<P>Any other ideas??? I'm beginning to run out.<P>Thanks <P>What else could it be? A sticking valve? Timing chain, <P>

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vacuum leak, slipped timing chain.<P>try finding bad cylinder by pulling wires one at a time (be careful) while the engine is running. if you can pull the wire and the engine does not change, then check that wire for spark with the screwdriver test.<P>if you are getting spark there, check the plug (replace it even).<P>if this gets you nowhere, look for jumped chain.<P><P>------------------<BR>allan<BR>--------------<BR>50 special, 455/th400<BR>64 stude gt hawk, 289/auto<BR>76 poncho GP, 400/th400

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I agree with the jumped timing chain idea, happened to me after getting rearended a couple years ago. Local mechanic tried to blame stuck carb float as problem, but I finnaly figured out the problem myself. Insurance company wouldn't pay to fix, they coudn't understand how an accident could cause it (duh!!), so, being broke, I advanced the timing and drove it until it stalled turning a corner one day and I got smoked by a truck. Ironiclly, the insurance company said it was my fault.

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How do you test for a jumped chain without pulling off the cover? Now the car won't start, but when it was running with the miss, advancing the timing made it run better.

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To : John O<P>To test for a jumped timing chain first bring # 1 cylinder to top dead center. Then check the position of the rotor. It should be pointing to the #1 plug.If the chain has jumped ,the rotor will be pointing between #1 plug and #2 plug. The fact that the machine will run advanced leads me to believe that the chain has jumped. How many miles are on the unit? Factory timing gears are plastic if memory serves. These have a tendancy to crack with age. Hope this helps answer some of your questions. Good luck.<BR>Rex

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