Timing a 71 1.7 liter

[jongerhart]

Hey guys,
I was working on my car last year and I turned the distributor. Ooops. But now that the weather is good and I have some spare time I decided to try timing the engine. I tried looking for the timing marks on the fan blades but I cannot see them or I do not know what they look like. Should I just turn the distributor to the TDC mark on the rotor and then match up the marks on the fan blades? I am kinda clueless as this is my first project car and I am a learning 16 year old that wants a porsche. Hope this is enough information. Thanks for all of your help. -Jon Gerhart

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Check the Pelican Tech article on setting the timing: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/914_timing/914_timing.htm

--DD

[SteveStromberg]

Remove the 1-2 side valve cover. Look at #1 valves rotate the engine clockwise (facing the pulley) untill both #1 valves are lose no pressure from the springs. Remove #1 sparkplug (take care not to drop spark plug down in the cooling tin), Use a dowel of wood insert in plug hole to feel the top of the piston this will verify that the piston is at TDC (top dead center) look at rotor on the dist. , rotate the dist. body untill the rotor lines up with the small line on the dist. body. At this point look down the timing hole in cooling shroud slowly roll motor back and forth untill you see timing marks then time to spec. Steve