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[Jim Simms]

As I wait on the arrival of my harmonic balancer, and hearing from people that the timing "slips" because the rubber bushing causes the balancer to make the timing off.
I am now getting the "ping" when I press on the gas too hard. It struggles to go up hills, then the pinging starts. When I hear the ping, like a box of marbles being shaken, I look into the mirror and there is the big big cloud of smoke.
I have to drive at slower speeds, not over 45 mph. I get the shake.
I sure want to get this fixed

[Rocketman]

The actual ignition timing doesn't change one bit. Just the reading you get from it. Although trying to adjust it using the mark on the pulley becomes difficult.

The vibration in your wheels. IT IS NOT FROM THE HARMONIC BALANCER. Get your wheels checked.

[Jim Simms]

Will do.
I had new tires put on 3-4 months ago.
those guys who "reset" the timing might have done something wrong to make it lose power as it does.
Thanks

[Jim Simms]

Balancer installed.
Matt was right; no noticeable diff.
Timing set; prob runs 900 at idle.

Now to try to pass smog.
After the timing was "adjusted" it began running rich.
Thought was it burned up the cat converter.
Now the figures in exhaust are thru the roof.

This smog thing out here is quite an industry.
4 people read 4 diff timing readings.
Don't have the heart to sell it

[Rocketman]

If your turbo is going out, you're burning oil, and there's no way you'll pass smog then.

[Jim Simms]

Bad timing on turbo going out.
Your info on turbo places was good and educational.
Found two rebuilder in CA: one in Cameron Park, the other in Oceanside, CA.
Both rebuild for abt $400 after core exchange.
Better get turbo done, then the cat converter

[Rocketman]

There's a guy selling good used turbo with a few other parts on FordFestiva.com - $120. http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?53054-B6T-parts-VJ14-turbo-VAF-and-intake-tube

Good deal on the turbo, might be a good candidate to send out for rebuilt or run it as-is

[Jim Simms]

Thanks for the turbo tip.  You are right, and the turbo will be the first thing to get fixed.
l will go to the link after I share another head shaking experience.
Smog guy admit his man might have made a mistake, stating he could not read the timing mark, and that his gun read 22* btdc.
So, the deal was my first mechanic was to check the timing now that I have my new harmonic balancer.
I left the car. He called me later, in a panic. Somehow the new harmonic balancer had the timing mark 180* from where it should have been. He showed me from the engine bay that you could not see the timing mark from the top. Then we lifted the car, I held the light, and there it was: the marking was on the bottom and not on the top. The guy who put it on did the spark plug height thing.

Back to the turbo. I have a guy who says he can do the hybrid, and port the wastegate to make it a little bigger and allow more exhaust to exit the turbine.
I will need to find a compressor housing for the larger VJ14 turbo.
Maybe the link will show me where I can get one.
So it looks like the whole problem was the turbo afterall, and the oil seal at the compressor.
Guess I will have to take the new harmonic balancer off and have it marked correctly.

[Jim Simms]

The link would not open to the guy selling the turbo.
will have to join the forum

[Rocketman]

They were probably using the #4 spark plug lead and not the #1. #1 is the cylinder closest to the timing belt.

[Jim Simms]

That is interesting.
If a person used the #4 plug instead of the #1 plug to check timing (big mistake), would the timing mark be 180 degrees opposite from using the #1 plug?

It seems to run ok, idles around 900.

[Rocketman]

I would put my $$ on them using the wrong plug wire. This would cause the mark to show up at a different spot

[azgtx]

"Back to the turbo. I have a guy who says he can do the hybrid, and port the wastegate to make it a little bigger and allow more exhaust to exit the turbine.
I will need to find a compressor housing for the larger VJ14 turbo"  ??

I have the VJ11 compressors.....   you do not need to buy a whole turbo for the hybrid.

[Jim Simms]

Matt, this is quite an education for us all.  I never heard of someone setting the timing, and have the car run ok, by using the #4 wire rather than the #1.  That would explain why the timing mark was exactly at the bottom of the rotation rather than at the top, near the mark on the block.

Azgtx, send out the info on the guy who can do the hybrid.
A guy from a shop near San Diego quoted the following:
$405 for the rebuild.
$150 for turbine wheel.
$95 for compressor wheel.
$200 for machining out the wastegate to the size of a nickel, as suggested on this site.

Do the turbine wheel and compressor wheels need replacing?  Do they wear out?
This will be good info for others doing the hybrid, and ultimately getting Rocket's chip.
Big decisions, but gotta get confidently back on the road.

[azgtx]

The quote was yours. I just sell the VJ11 compressor housing and wheels. You don't know if you need the the turbine shaft until you get yours apart. As for the wastegate 200.00 is ludicrous. You can do that yourself with a grinder and some grinding bits and balls. I think you are reading too much into this whole thing. The turbo is very simple. Take your turbo and the VJ11 compressor to the shop and let them do their thing. 405.00 is reasonable... But for you area I cannot believe you can't find a shop in the LA proper area. After you get it back then you can remove the turbine housing and open up the gate hole. I am assuming you have some skills with working on these cars. If not then let the shop port the gate but that is a chunk of change for that little bit of work. I am always under 400.00 when I have these done... but then again I only take the CHRA and the compressor to the shop and usually and extra shaft or 2 just in case. I understand it is new territory for some... we were all there so the old guys can fill you in.