Mitch,
Another thing you might want to check:
Check the timing at idle, with the timing light trigger at spark plug at #1.
Repeat this for 2, 3 , & 4.
As you already mentioned, #2 is not firing the timing light.
I am curious to the timing reference of #1, #3, #4? If they are the same,
then the distributor shaft and advance cam lobes should be OK. If the
timing jumps around for the three plugs that do fire, I am wondering
if the distributor shaft might be bent and barely (if at all) opening the points
when #2 lobe passes them.
If the shaft was bent, I would expect to see the timing to be different on
the three firing cylinders. If the shaft was bent exactly towards #3 lobe,
then #1 & #4 should be the same, with #3 firing later. Remember the coil
"fires" when the points open.
Cheers,
Tom Walter
Austin, TX
P.S. One time I noticed I was down on power. Quick check on the timing
of the four cylinders showed #4 was not firing. Pulled the plug, found a piece
of metal on the electrode had shorted it out. Cool, replaced the plug and off
I went. I didn't stop to think WHY there was a piece of metal on the plug,
but a month later replaced the head gasket. You know those stamped metal
sealing rings around the cylinders -- yes, that was the source of the metal. :-(
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