Running slightly retarded timing, any damage?

[wil892]

Hi
I've put about 7000 miles on my GTD since its new head and injectors. However, i've always felt that it could do with more advance at the pump, mainly because when its very cold I have to pull the advance lever. And also it smokes a little more than I think it should. Anyway this has been like this for 7000 miles and the car runs great, I just think it could be advanced more.
I don't really have much time to start adjusting it with the dial gauge, so i'm wondering if there will be any adverse effects on the engine if driven like this until the summer?. Basically at the moment I just pull the CS and keep it out until the temp gauge shows a rise, then I push it back in.

On a side note, I would like to pull the head again this summer as the engine seems to get through more oil than I would like, I have notice that the rear left oil drain area is quite wet with oil so I think there is a leak. When i retorqued the head bolts after warm up, all the bolts tightned perfectly except #10 i.e the last one to be tightned. It kind of popped slightly as I started to torque it on the final turn, then turned with slightly less resistance than the rest had. anyone think this sounds like a crack, I REALLY hope its not.
Thanks
will

[the caveman]

I wouldn't be too hard to advance the pump timing without a gauge. Move it away [ i would double check this as i have been wrong more than once] from the engine a mm or two for more advance .
As for the other issue, yes it sounds like the threads weren't clean in the block and the block may now be cracked-i feel for you man

[the caveman]

See- i always get it backwards.

And yes the bolts do sometimes make that sound- but getting loose once almost tight and having oil leak from that same corner... how lucky are you ?

[wil892]

Thanks, yes I will try advancing it by ear.
As for the bolt, I guess the only way to tell would be to remove the head, or maybe thats not a good idea. I ran a tap through all the threads in the holes quite a few times to get any dirt out, then suctioned out any fluid in them. The bolt did'nt go loose, it just felt looser than the others, just wondering if that is because the rest had been tightened and that one had'nt.
I think I will remove the head in the summer and see whats what until then , touch wood, it runs fine and has a good bit of power. have there been other reports of that bolt failing? is it common for these blocks to crack? I really can't understand it, i made sure the new bolts went into the holes fine, made sure there was no liquid in them, and i slightly lubed them with oil before putting them in.

[745 turbogreasel]

My buddy got a bag of cut rate bolts, and quite a few broke on final torque.
Just replacing the broken one seemed to work fine.