Ignition Timing after rebuild. Healthy at 6000 RPM??

[hessel1974]

Hello,

2 weeks ago I fired up my freshly rebuild 2.2 T engine with great success. Only minor oil leakes and she runs, considering the carbs & ignition timing has not been done yet. very stable and consistent.

I now have to take the next step and set the ingition timing. I know that you have to check the advance/retard at 6000 RPM, but don't know if this is wise for a newlt rebuild engine without any roadmiles on it (Still finishing up the build up of the car)

Do I need to rev her upto 6000 RPM to set the ignition timing? something tells me that this is not good for my engine at this point.

Can use some of your usefull advice on this.

Thx Hessel

[304065]

Did you have the distributor recurved and advance plotted so that you know the advance at 3000 distributor RPM is correct? That is more important than a no-load test in the engine, in my opinion.

The problem with old distributors is the pivot points wear and the springs stretch at the same time that rust locks up the advance, so you get an unpredictable curve-- could be 20 degrees at one pull and could be 40 at another. I would have the distributor checked if you haven't already, and if it's in spec, set the timing at idle, and then check it at the "knee" in the curve where the second advance weight swings in-- chances are if it's correct there it will be OK up top.

I wouldn't have a problem free-revving the newly rebuilt engine to 6000, but don't do it all day-- have everything set up and a helper present to rev and hold the engine precisely there while you check the timing in the back. Do NOT get anything caught in the fan or belt while performing the test.