87 Dodge D-150 Pinging Problems
 

Hi Everyone, I'm new to this forum. Just signed up last week.Seems like a great forum. I'm wondering if someone can help me out with a pinging problem.
I have an 87 D-150 with a 318. When i bought it 14 years ago it had the scc carb. that was controled by a computer that sat next to the battery on the left side. I didn't drive the truck very much. Just used it to haul wood and other stuff you need a truck for. About two years ago I had a drive ability problem with it. Would hardly run, would not idle,no power. Everything I read pointed to the computer. So I put a rebuilt computer in it (you can't get a new one) And it did nothing. Getting very frustrated I had it towed to a garage that did a lot of Mopars. I told them to take out the computer and put a electronic ignition and new carb in it. When I picked it up it ran great, till I got to the first big hill. That's when the pinging started. I took it easy and got it home. I played with the timing and got it better but could not make the pinging go away compleatly. It sat without much use till two months ago when I needed a truck for daily use. I have the distributor maxed out at btc and for the most part it runs good till you put a load on it. Now here's the crazy part. According to the degree marker above the balancer it says it's advanced to the max. If I turn the distributor the other way I can't even get the engine to start. Never seen anything like it. Can anyone give me some insight on this?

Sounds like maybe the dist. needs to be recurved or the timing chain jumped a tooth.
Just my 2 cents

Thanks, I try that and see if the recurve helps. Hope it's not the timing chain.

The timing may be controlled by the computer ? SO turning the dist has no effect. Was the dist replaced ? Also the balance marks could have slipped and the dist is off a tooth ???

The computer was disconnected, and a Mopar electronic ignition was installed along with a new carb. So far everything is pointing to a slipped timing chain.

If the chain jumped I would suspect You would have more problems than just pinging First check the timing marks !!! Find TDC and mark the pulley. You could be using the wrong marks !!!

Thanks, that's great starting point. That should tell me just what I might be dealing with.