Timing questions

[bowlsby]

I am a little confused about engine timing, maybe the more experienced wrenches on the this BBS can clarify for me. The question revolves around what ot means to 'advance' the ignition timing.

When timing the 914 (2.0/4) after setting the dwell, looking into the engine bay, the flywheel is to the rear of the car, the fan to the front. I got that much.

The timing notches on the fan housing show the notch for TDC and more notches to the left of TDC (drivers side).

The notches to the left of TDC are for setting BTDC correct? So settings to the right (passenger side) of TDC are ATDC, correct?

If all thats true, then to 'advance' the timing, means what? What would an 'advanced timing' setting be when the manual calls for 27BTDC...30BTDC or 24BTDC?

So that I fully understand, what direction would I go to 'advance' the timing from a position of say 5ATDC...closer to TDC or away from it?

Sorry for the newbie questions...

[John Rogers]

If you are laying across the trunk looking down into the timing hole, when the engine is running, the fan blades move from right to left across the hole. So, to simulate this you can reach down and pull up on the right side of the fan and as the engine rotates you will come to the first timing mark which will be the ADVANCE mark then several blades later the next mark which is the TOP DEAD CENTER (TDC) mark. So you are correct in figuring the marks to the left are the BTDC marks and are where timing is set when full advance is in. The total advance depends on the car and the type engine. For example, in my race car I use 34 to 36 degrees total, a little more than stock, but on the stock 2l engine I use exactly what the specs call for. Good luck.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

To answer the question, "advance" refers to making it farther before TDC.

--DD

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Pelican Parts 914 Tech Support

A few pics of my car: http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Dave_Darling

[bowlsby]

And therfore to 'advance' the timing on a VW which should be set at 5ATDC, it should be set at something less than 5ATDC, say ~2ATDC?

[John Rogers]

Yes.