Fine tuning 3FE (1 Viewer)

[Larsenoffroad]

Hey all,
I recently got my 1992 80 running. I bought it with a seized engine and transmission. Found a used engine I went through and resealed and had the transmission rebuilt. It’s running and driving but it’s slow. When I say it’s slow I mean it’s way slower than a 3fe should be. I’ve adjusted the trans cable and it seems the be shifting as it should. The timing I have maxed out and it still idles a bit low after warm up. I’ve reinstalled the distributor a few times and it doesn’t seat where I wish it would to give me more adjustment in the timing(one gear tooth would make the difference) Heard about the golden screw which I will try next but the engine is not as responsive as it should be. Takes a second after the pedal is pressed to rev up which leads me to believe the timing still needs more adjustment. All ignition parts are new. Just feels so bogged down. The engine is desmogged and the cats are deleted. New pugs wires dist cap and rotor. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. I feel like I’m missing something small.

 

[brxxxck]

I'd check all the vacuum lines & routing- a bunch of mine were cracked on the underside.
Though because you're de smogged you've got about 80% less to replace.
could also be fuel filter/ pump? I have yet to do those on mine.

 

[Larsenoffroad]

I haven't checked the pressure from the pump but it is pumping. The fuel filter is new and the vacuum lines have been inspected and I replaced what was bad. the routing could be wrong. I looked at all the diagrams I could when I reinstalled the engine but maybe I crossed two lines. Could you post photos of all your vacuum lines. That would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Marco Lau]

Have you done a compression test on all 6? Also, how did you adjust timing? Prior to timing advance and such, you should make sure the engine is @ BTDC when adjusting valves, the needle in the timing window is align with the big circle, 7º BTDC.

Also you should replace your intake boot, could be a source of vacuum leak

 

[Larsenoffroad]

Have you done a compression test on all 6? Also, how did you adjust timing? Prior to timing advance and such, you should make sure the engine is @ BTDC when adjusting valves, the needle in the timing window is align with the big circle, 7º BTDC.

compression is great on it. I did it per the instructions in my Hanes manual. TDC or the two small machined dots in the window then installing it with the dist with the rotor at the 1 position.

 

[jonheld]

General Tech - 3FE Tune Up Info

3FE Tune Up Info

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[leonard_nemoy]

Have you driven other 3fe powred 80 series?

 

[ozarkmud]

How big are the tires on it? What is the ignition advance at, currently? Are there any vacuum leaks?

 

[brxxxck]

I haven't checked the pressure from the pump but it is pumping. The fuel filter is new and the vacuum lines have been inspected and I replaced what was bad. the routing could be wrong. I looked at all the diagrams I could when I reinstalled the engine but maybe I crossed two lines. Could you post photos of all your vacuum lines. That would be greatly appreciated.

it should be under your hood
but this may help

3fe vac hose help real time

New to me 3fe, bought it with blown hg and now it is back together but is running rough. There are a few lines that were not hooked up and I cannot figure out where they go on any diagrams or the fsm. The first is the mystery part that is bolted to the side of the airbox. The second is the hose...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Larsenoffroad]

I think I have it figured out.
1. Playing with the Trans cable has helped a bit, I originally I set it per FSM but after driving and further tightening I found it was happier slightly tighter than FSM recommendation
2. Retimed the Engine with TE1 and E1 Jumped. Tried to use my timing light and was unable to see the BTDC mark lining with the Pin (possibly the wrong angle?) I decided to Time based on sound and Vacuum pressure. Sitting at 19in of vacuum it was running great with some slight adjustment to the idle screw.
3. Today I am going to adjust the valves (I should have done that to begin with) and go through the process again.

Getting the timing correct along with fiddling with throttle and trans cable gave it twice as much power and is feeling so much better to drive. My gut is telling me further adjustments to make it perfect but so far heading in the right direction.

At the end of the day I know its going to be slow so in time I will be putting a turbo on it and documenting well in a new thread. I think that will give me what I am looking for without doing a swap as I want to keep this one as original as possible.

 

[jonheld]

Help on adjusting timing / '91 / 3FE

In my ongoing saga of trying to get my 3FE smogged I'm nearly about to pass, but my timing is off, literally. According to the smog tech I can be off by 3-degrees +/- from factory spec. As you likely know factory is 7-degree and the tech says I'm at 13 so I need to drop it down to no more than...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[inkpot]

Been there, done that.