We are working on an AMC Eagle SW (1983) with a 258 straight 6 engine and have a problem with hesitation on acceleration.The car has good fuel supply, good carburation and good fire. The timing specification is 6 degrees BTDC plus or minus 2 degrees and correctly set the car hesitates. However, if we advance the timing to around 12-14 degrees BTDC the hesitation disappears.Unfortunately, a loud knock develops with the ignition timing this far advanced.What's up? We remember hearing ( we think) that a car with a timing chain in need of replacement can be temporarily helped by advancing timing and so wonder if the problem is that the valve timing is late by way of a slack timing chain? Or could the problem come from the distributor itself? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-- Joseph D. Nicholson (whistlepigs@webtv.net), January 19, 2002

Answers

Check your vacuum advance for tears in the diaphram, then check the accelator pump in the carb. As for the timing chain use a old fashioned timing light and see if the marks are consistant or dancing around.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 19, 2002.

good bet on the timing chain soon. ALso, AMC were octane lovers, higher the better,, so you could run it advanced without the knocking.

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 19, 2002.

ooooohhhhhhhh. a Nash Quattro ... excellant car .. way ahead of it's time. Seems like all my cars are somewhat sensitive to the fuel additives the manufacturers are adding these days. Don't be afraid to put a bottle of Techron or 24k in it to make sure all the gunk is out of the system. Sounds like you've done a good job setting everything where it should be. I had an 84 ... it was great !

-- scott (sbitzer@columbus.rr.com), January 19, 2002.

Remove dist. cap and check mechanical advance for freeness - if the mechanical advance weights are stuck, the timing can't be set properly. From my husband - good luck.

-- Katie (homesteader@accessnevada.com), January 19, 2002.