Why do my spark plugs look as they do???

[chalander]

It's been some time since I've updated this thread, but since I have fixed a bad ground wire behind the CAS plug. I also redid my battery and ecu grounds, as well as replaced a coil packet, swapped my injectors from 450cc to stock 370cc, and replaced the CAS.

For the most part they were unnecessary repairs but they did help me trouble shoot where I discovered my alignment pin broke off and is worn out. So yesterday I torn out my hydraulic lifters in anticipation of recieing a new exhaust camshaft (thanks dee!).

My car had previously made a loud ticking from the lifters at certain rpms, last night I rebuilt them and found a couple that had air in them but all were in good shape!

So I'm hoping my timing issues will go away as well as my ticking noise. Also I think reverting to the 370cc injectors helped the afr ratios.

I'll update in a week or so when I have the new camshaft installed!

[float_6969]

Glad to hear this might be finally getting resolved.

[chalander]

I got my new (used) camshaft today, here are some pictures of the alignment pins for both cam shafts new and old.

Old cam alignment pin... Lolz


New cam alignment pin!

[float_6969]

That should help!

[chalander]

I installed the new cam shaft any now I can read my timing marks crystal clear however my car still seems to be timing hungry, it runs like s*** at 15 degrees and begins to rev smoother when I go more advance, until maxed out. I will be creating another thread for this issue specifically. I feel like I'm getting close to fixing this!

[float_6969]

That sounds like your cam timing is off a tooth.

[chalander]

Yeah, that makes sense. I'll redo the timing again, I've always set the belt according to the about it and people have been saying that the visual alignment of marks is more reliable than counting cogs. So this time I'm going to set it according to the visual alignment marks on the motor.

[chalander]

I check the timing belt and it was spot on. I then swapped the plugs out with new bcpr6e 11 gapped to .8. It was running bcpres6 11 at the following gaps, .95 .1 .135 .9

I rechecked the timing with a lead between the coil and plug rather than on the harness like last time and it read the correct spectrum, I must have been getting an inaccurate reading from placing the inductive pickup on the harness. I set the timing to 15 degrees and it rev'd happy under load, only stuttered a bit at wot, but the more I tweak the fuel pressure and ignition timing the better it runs. At one point tonight it ran 100% no stittering but then I tweaked the fuel pressure too much and lost the sweet spot. I'll be playing around with in in the next few days.

[float_6969]

Yea, that loop is worthless IMHO.

Did you replace the CAS as well as the exhaust cam? When the splines fail, it usually damages both. If you didn't, that could still be giving you running problems.

[chalander]

I have a new refurbished CAS that I am using and the spline on it looks immaculate. I'll update once I get her running smoother.

[chalander]

I would like to conclude this thread as problem fixed. In the end my main troubles were related to the alignment pin on the exhaust shaft which connected to the CAS.

[float_6969]

Thanks for following up and letting us know what solved this.