HELP: Quick Timing Question

AMG Hammer · 11-19-2001, 10:34 AM

This was pulled from the tech article about setting static timing:

The objective is to turn the crankshaft so that cylinder #1 is at TDC (the Z1 mark aligns with the notch on the fan assembly), install the distributor so the rotor points to ignition wire #1.

I have the following questions:

1) How do you know where ignition wire #1 goes on the cap? Does the distributor have a marking on it that indicates ignition wire #1? If so, what does the marking look like?

From pictures it looks like ignition wire #1 mounts on the cap just above and to the right of the distributors vacuum canister. Does this sound right or am I way off?

I appreciate your help in advance. :-)

wckrause · wckrause's Garage

There is a small notch on the edge of the distributor housing. The rotor will point to it when at #1 TDC.

Early_S_Man · 11-19-2001, 10:54 AM

On all of the Bosch distributors I have seen, there is a mark stamped into the body indicating the #1 sparkplug. If there is no mark and assuming you have already removed the wires from the old cap ... jack up the left side of the car and remove both intake and exhaust valve covers, and turn over the engine by hand until both valves in cyl #1 are closed, then fine-tune the rotation by setting at the Z1 mark on the crank pulley. The rotor will now point to TDC #1!

AMG Hammer · 11-19-2001, 01:04 PM

OK, I've attached a picture of my distributor with an arrow pointing to the only notch I could find. Does this look like the #1 wire indicator? I just want to make sure I get everything right.

wckrause · wckrause's Garage

In your picture I see a small notch on the inner lip. Above your arrow. That looks more like the #1 notch.

AMG Hammer · 11-19-2001, 03:10 PM

Thanks for your input.

Can anyony else verify this, just so I know for sure?

stormcrow · stormcrow's Garage

That is correct - the inner notch is the #1 mark.

Steve

Superman · 11-19-2001, 03:37 PM

That's the cleanest distributor I ever saw.

Early_S_Man · 11-19-2001, 03:49 PM

The inner mark, circled in RED, is the #1 cylinder mark.

Doug Zielke · 11-19-2001, 04:22 PM

Warren is correct. Don't expect this mark to be too obvious. The distributor on my car may have the faintest mark to ever come out of Germany!

wckrause · wckrause's Garage

"Can anyony else verify this, just so I know for sure?"

Well, I guess that says something about my credibility.

AMG Hammer · 11-19-2001, 06:04 PM

I appreciate all the feedback, this board has been a huge help throughout my entire project. Porsche owners are a great bunch of people.

Yeah, she's nice and clean.

I'm converting from an HPV-1 setup to a twin plug distributor with dual MSD 6AL's. It's been an interesting project to say the least. Once I'm finished I'll post some pictures to show everybody how it turned out.

Thanks again!