Dead 440 Timing Gears, Coincidence or Mailing List Power of Suggestion

["Eric" <gearhead@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Confirmation: Cam gear all chewed up, chain so loose that I could lift it
off the gear.
Paul, did you have a question about timing gears, I can tell u all about
them, now. :-)

Eric
'63 Crown Four-Door
'72 Newport Custom Sedan

From: dardal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat,  6 Dec 2003 10:44:26 -0600
Subject: IML: 72 440 dead
Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Eric, before you conclude that the timing gear jumped a tooth and is
responsible
for the engine dying, why don't you try the more usual (and easy to repair)
factors first.  Is there fuel?  Is there spark?  Drop a small quantity of
gas
in the carb, and crank it.  If it tries to fire up, may be you have a fue
problem.  (are there any gasoline smells coming from the carb whith the air
cleaner off?  Any fuel squarting when you pump the throttle linkage by
hand?).
If that turns out negative (fuel delivary OK) try spark.  Remove a sparkplug
and with the plug wire on it, put the plug on a metal part of the car to get
it
grounded.  Then crank, and observe for spark.  This is easier done at night.

Does 72 year model have electronic ignition?  These are known to die w/out
warning.

D^2