Timing Assitance on a 1979 911 sc
 

We have teh Haynes manual now, and a friend of mine who is quite mechanically inclined is coming over to make sure when i pulled the distrib to remove and replace the alt shroud strap, that i did not jack up my timing. Now I started the car and after I pulled the dist. and put it back in, I let it warm up and then turned the dist til teh idle dropped to about 950. It drove fine aftre. But i just want to be sure with the timing light that we are accurate. Is there and specific timing degree i should pay attention to in Colorado's higher altitude? I know i can advance it to get more power, but at the potential cost of damage correct? What should I do here tonight guys/gals?

The SC usually calls for 5 degrees BTDC with hoses disconnected. Properly hooking the hose up will get you to about 30 degrees of advance at 4000 RPM and higher.
Bruce

Idle speed adjustment.........
 

Why are you turning the distributor to set your idle speed? Turning your distributor to either directions will directly change your ignition timing. This not how you set your idle speed. Keep us posted. Thanks.

Tony

Before I removed the dist. i marked the housing with the base and the mark is about 1/8 inch wide. so within that mark I then adjusted the idle speed. I'll get a timing light on there and see whats up. thanks guys!

Hmm. so we adjusted the timing. but the haynes 911 manual shows teh timing degrees for a 1978 and then a 1980. no 1979. I used the one for 1978 since the emissions were different in 1980. Is this correct? It said 5 degrees BTDC at idle with no vacuum if i remember correctly. then at 6000 RPM should be at 25-30 degrees. but now it seems to be running a bit odd. so not sure what to do. it's pretty low on gas, the lights been on now for a bit, not sure if that has something to do with it..

You are correct that your timing should be the same as a 78. Odd can mean alot of things. Check to make sure your timing advances with RPM using your timing light.

-Andy