Timing

[Mike Cardwell]

I've recently reset my timing and now my car runs horribly. I've checked the dwell with a meter and set the time at 3500 rpms (engine warm) and now the car wants to sputter and backfire at low rpms. I tried turning the distributor a little more and the backfire went away but it doesn't coordinate with the marks on the impeller fan. I'm running 34's with a 009 distributor. Any ideas?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Try retading the timing. The 009 has about half of the advance built in as the stock distributor. If you set the timing to the stock marks (27 deg BTDC @ 3500 RPM, assuming a 1.7 or 2.0) it will be over-advanced near idle. If you set the static timing (~4 deg BTDC engine off) it'll be fine off idle and will suck at mid-to-high revs. So you'll have to compromise. Try 7 deg BTDC with the engine off and see how that works.

Better yet, get a stock distributor (from any 914, but 1.8 may be better) or an 050. Or have the 009 re-curved. Check the distributor specs article on the 914 Club's homepage. Go to http://www.dgi.net/914 and click on "914 tech specs", I think.

--DD