I have a 1986 VL Commodore that until recently has been running fine.
I used to have the timing advanced to 20 degrees BTDC but I have now returned it to the standard setting of 15 degrees BTDC
When I am driving everything is fine until about 3200rpm (sometimes lower in the rev range according to the load put on the engine) when I hear a rattling noise from the engine and my tacho goes nuts and flicks up to about 5 or 6k. The car still accelerates but it hesitates a lot and I don�t push it very hard because I am worried about causing damage to the pistons due to detonation.
What could be the reason it is running like this?
I have just had the fuel filter changed along with all the other filters and spark plugs etc.
Another problem I have has only come up since I have had the car raised to standard height. It used to have cut springs all around (lowered about 2� at the front and at least 3� at the rear) it handled like **** so I had standard springs put in. Ever since then whenever I accelerate hard in 1st and sometimes 2nd gear I get like a scraping sound that comes and goes. It is like the tail shaft is rubbing on the floor or something but it is not a constant rubbing like when it is bent (I have had that problem before)
Also, I have had a power steering hose leak for some time now and there is a light brown film all over everything in the engine bay, what would be the best way to clean it all up and get it looking good again?
Sounds sorta like your clutch is slipping at 3200rpm like you say, id check that out and replace your clutch if needed. I could be wrong tho...
The scraping noise i am not sure of, lift the back of your car using a jack under the diff and check clearance of the tail shaft.
For cleaning that brown residue id cover (or remove) all the electronic components (eg, tape up the connectors and sensors, remove all the spark leads. Give the engine a high pressure steam clean and then remove your dizzy cap make sure no water has got in there, check all electronic connections are dry and hook it all back up and it should be fine.
hey dude.. ud be suprised how much u can clean the engine bay up without the use of steam or water at all.. just get a rag and a can of degreaser.. use lots of rags and should be able to cean it all up pretty good.
have u got a larger exhaust/muffer ?? The reason I ask is because I recently fitted a 2 1/2" zorst with a Lukey muffler to my bros car.. and after gettin underneath to have a look.. i've seen that there are 2 or 3 nice chunks of metal taken out of the muffler from hittin the tailshaft near where it bolts to the diff.. this could be the cause of ur scraping noise.
did u adjust the timing yourself.. u sure u set it on 15, not 25 ?
it seems wierd that it seems to be running ****ty at stock setting.. double check dude.. and also make sure u set ur idle speed properly to the new timing setting
Later
Ollie
What had always caused pinging on my VL was incorrect ignition or valve timing,has the valve timing belt been changed or altered?
It is really easy to mess this up as in the manual the teeth go from 0 - 53 teeth,don't count the zero as a tooth and the car will be gutless and ping its backside off.
