.050 Dist.

[C. Clark]

Hello,
Recently I added a set of Weber 40's and a .050 distributor. Can anyone explain the timing of the .050? I've researched this site and have come up with various setting. Will it damage the engine to have the wrong timing setting? or will it just run poorly. A VW friend says it will burn the engine if the timing is over adavanced. Currently when the distributor is retarded I get popping and cracking, as it advances it goes away but I believe I must go beyond the suggested 5 degrees to eliminate the problem totally. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Chas.

[Duke]

The timing should be 5BTDC at idle. Rev the engine to 3000rpm/upm-make sure the advance is between 32-35. I have used this since 1983 with no problems. Best of luck, Duke-69 912.

[WFBowen]

The total advance of the .050 is around 27deg., which, with initial 5deg. puts you in the low 30's. As long as you stay in that range, your engine will be safe. The difference between the 050 and Porsche- specific distributors is the advance curve. The 050 is linear (straight lined) up to maximum, while the Porsche dist.'s are curved to the specific needs of the engine at various rpm. A recent article in the 356 registry on 050's stated that (their words, not mine):
"...lacking the sophisticated and very beneficial "hump" which is so important to engine responsiveness in the midrange. ...The engine will require considerably more throttle in the midrange to get desired power...engine will run rich in the midrange."
The problem with a linear dist. curve is that to get more low rpm advance, you're getting too much at the top. As far as engine safety, priority would be given to the max. overall timing, even if it means low rpm stumble.

Hope this helps.