Thanks

For those of you out of the loop, the phone message went something like this:

Paul, I've heard a rumor circulating that I am in possession of a Big Azz. I wish to return that title to the man to whom it rightfully belongs; to that end, I've left it on your back porch.

And now, Paul is back to being the only man in the neighborhood with a really Big Azz.

They worked really well for loosening the crankshaft pulley that I just couldn't seem to get a grip on with the equally-large strap wrench you loaned me. Took a chunk of air conditioner belt, locked it around the pulley using your Big Azz, and my buddy Nathan got a good crack at getting the bolt loose. Fun times!

Of course, now I'm back to figuring out why the heck my A/C belt squeaks so horribly when I start up, even though it's even a bit tighter than spec right now...

--
Matthew P. Barnson

Check the bearings on each of the pulleys. Is there a tensioner pulley on the A/C belt? If so, my guess would be that pulley.

Yeah, I get to take it apart again, though... hardly any power from my engine, I think I'm a notch off on my timing. We went up a hill that we're gonna bike up Saturday Morning, and once I hit the dirt part of Vine street, the car was barely crawling along at 15 MPH. Yeah, it's steep, but not that steep. And I think a full notch isn't something I can compensate for on my distributor...

--
Matthew P. Barnson

Remember there are two kinds of timing.
Ignition timing and valve timing. Ignition timing determines when the spark plug fires relative to the position of the piston in the cylinder.
Valve timing determines the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves relative to the position of the crankshaft (and in turn the position of the piston)
If you are off a notch on your timing belt that affects your valve timing. No change in the rotation of your distributor could ever fix that because that's an adjustment to your ignition timing.

too-tight belts can rob the engine of power. More than you'd think.