How to set your ignition timing correctly

Powerail · Post by **Powerail** » Fri May 12, 06 10:32 am

Sorry Dave you're right that was ambigous.

I should have said "plugged up" the vac again. It was disconnected with something blocking up the end.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Fri May 12, 06 10:38 am

Ah. My mistake. I was reading the word "in" which in fact was not there.

Mick · Post by **Mick** » Mon May 15, 06 8:39 pm

On your pic of the BB dist drive it shows the slot parallel to the crank centreline, whereas the slot on mine is pointing towards No 3 cyl and wont run as your pic.
Mick

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Mon May 15, 06 8:55 pm

You lift out the dizzy drive and install it as in the picture making sure the engine is at TDC on the compression stroke.

Then you install the dizzy so that it points the way described.

Now here comes the technical bit.

Then you remove the ignition wires from the dizzy cap and put them back in so that at TDC the rotor is pointing at the wire going to #1 spark plug.

It doesn't matter what way you set the dizzy or its drive as long as the rotor starts off firing #1 spark plug. The way described is how the engine was set up at the factory.

Mick · Post by **Mick** » Mon May 15, 06 10:51 pm

Maybe i'm missing something here but when my drive is in the position of the pic, it wont point to No 1 on TDC of the compression stroke.
There is only one slot for the rotor arm and that is predetermined by the position of the oil pump drive.
I'm not saying your wrong, i just dont understand how it can be more than one position.
Mick

Guy · Post by **Guy** » Mon May 15, 06 11:18 pm

You have to lift out the oil pump drive and re-align it as per the picture

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon May 15, 06 11:19 pm

The oil pump drive position isn't fixed until you put the distributor in, the only thing that connects it to the cam gear is the distributor shaft, so if it's not in the correct place just turn it to where you want it to be

Mick · Post by **Mick** » Tue May 16, 06 12:58 am

If i bring my motor up to TDC on compression it's pointing at No 1 on the distributor and then pull the distributor out, then the pump gear is in it's rightful place, which is not the same as the pic. If i then take it out and twist it to the same as pic, put it back in then the rotor arm is no longer pointing at No 1 and wont run correctly.

Mick · Post by **Mick** » Tue May 16, 06 1:01 am

The oil pump drive can only move in about 4 positions, as the gear meshes with the cam but only one is right.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue May 16, 06 7:21 am

Forget that stupid answer Mick, i've spent the whole day with several rover distributors in my machine, the drive gear needs turning

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue May 16, 06 8:53 am

For Christ sake Mick.

#1 is where the rotor ends up pointing. About the 5 o'clock position if I remember correctly. NOT where it was pointing before.

You move the ignition wires around the dizzy cap to suit.

If that is too complicated for you just leave it as it was.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue May 16, 06 6:08 pm

A little off topic but, I'm left with a small puddle of oil in the crevis of the dizzy drive and the dizzy drive casting which has , presumably worked its way up the outside of the drive??

Not enough to worry about but is there possibly a seal gone?

steve

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Tue May 16, 06 8:17 pm

Small blocks have gasket and an o ring. Does yours?

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue May 16, 06 8:32 pm

It should have an O-ring on the dizzy.

Mick · Post by **Mick** » Tue May 16, 06 9:58 pm

Chill out Dave, I understand what you're saying about the leads, i will leave the rest of the debate alone as it's getting out of hand.
Mick