Timing off by a tooth?

[lookin4dsm]

I've had this problem ever since I rebuilt the engine.

I am running rich (black soot on spark plugs and exhaust), slight miss and low vacuum at idle. When I ground timing in DSM Link and check with timing light, I get 5 degrees BTDC.
I've fixed several boost leaks. I still, however, slowly lose pressure and hear hissing from inside the valve cover. From what I've researched, this is normal when doing a boost leak with a cold motor (compression is 180 across the board, new valve seals were installed when head was rebuilt, new OEM pcv valve checks out okay).

Everything I've read about the problem points to timing being off. Before I continue diagnosing this, I want to be able to eliminate a timing problem. Is it possible to still be off a tooth on one of the cams and the timing light show 5 degrees BTDC?

Thanks

Mike

 

[eclipseism]

It could be your Cas is out of time by 180 dagress, mine was i kept haveing timeing perfect perfect perfect and she wouldnt fire up right, my spark plugs were black to, i moved the cas Counter clock wise it it click and was on time 180dagres on time after tears, sweat and swearing all day it finaly fired up and i was happy. and theres nothing better than hearing here PEEERRRRRR again

P.S you sure you MAF is connected?

 

[lookin4dsm]

It could be your Cas is out of time by 180 dagress, mine was i kept haveing timeing perfect perfect perfect and she wouldnt fire up right, my spark plugs were black to, i moved the cas Counter clock wise it it click and was on time 180dagres on time after tears, sweat and swearing all day it finaly fired up and i was happy. and theres nothing better than hearing here PEEERRRRRR again

P.S you sure you MAF is connected?

Thanks for the suggestions. I will double check the CAS, however, there are several reasons why I don't think it is the problem:
1) pretty sure I lined up the marks inside the CAS properly.
2) car fires right up.
3) In DSM Link, I have checked and unchecked "invert CAS". Nothing changed either way.
4) I think the car runs strong. When I took it on the back roads to break the engine in, it was impressive. My son seems to think it is not as fast as it should be, though.

As far as the MAF, it is connected and has all the honeycombs. The bottom adjustment screw has been tampered with and is currently adjusted out. I'm pretty sure that has not been changed since we bought the car, though.

I appreciate the suggestions and they are on my list to double check once I am 100% sure my timing is correct.

Mike

 

[GVR4592]

Did you swap your sparkplug wires around when you installed the 95 ecu?

 

[95talon_in_ma]

I would think it's possible to have one cam in line and have the other off. Cam sensor only reads from one cam...

Unfamiliar with DSM link, but does it read the crank sensor or cam sensor to arrive at the 5 degrees?

 

[lookin4dsm]

Did you swap your sparkplug wires around when you installed the 95 ecu?

Yes, and new wires and plugs were installed.

Thanks.

Mike

 

[lookin4dsm]

Unfamiliar with DSM link, but does it read the crank sensor or cam sensor to arrive at the 5 degrees?

I don't know, however, I will ask over at the DSM Link forum.

Thanks.

Mike