clubstylus

Has anybody, with a post 1998, phase 3 Zetec (Blacktop) 1800, any experience of setting TDC with the timing pin? When fitted should it lock the engine at TDC?
There are no engine pulley timing marks on this engine, therefore I have set TDC using an indicator rod through the No. #1 plug hole initially, and then fitting the timing pin, but it is still possible to rotate the engine several degrees either side of TDC, is this normal?
This then is causing me problems when attempting to set the cam timing, using a flat steel strip.
At least I think this is the problem as although the engine starts and runs without any problems, it seems to hit a wall at 5000 rpm and struggles to rev cleanly past this.
I was planning to fit a pair of 2.0L cams and then, at a later date, have it set up on a rolling rod along with the required rescheduling of my ECU which, as it's a Webcon unit, requires a specialist Webcon rolling road.
Could this be the problem with the engine, the fact that it is an engine management fueling problem and not cam timing?
For the record I should say that the engine was perfect before on it's original cams, revved to 6200 rpm, and the problem has only come about with my fitting 2.0L cams.
Any help would be appreciated. Pete.

have you fitted blacktop cams? Blacktop and silvertop cams aren't interchangeable!

I think the pin should normally lock the crank at tdc in 1 way, eg possible to back off, but not advance

Thanks for your reply Werner, yes they are blacktop cams. Double, double rechecked the timing but this time didn't bother with the timing pin, just set TDC with a DTI through the #1 plug hole. Still have misfire after 5000 rpm so must now assume this is an engine management fueling problem which will, hopefully, be sorted when I get the car to a Webcon rolling road.
Pete.