Timing Question

[Tidybuoy]

I have a stock 1974 1.8 with L-Jet

My car is running well but when I check the timing, it seems that I can only get the timing to about 25btdc.

As I turn the distributor clockwise, the vaccum advance cannister hits the fan shroud and prevents getting the timing to the correct setting. I am shooting for 7degrees btdc at 900rpm - all vaccum on distributor disconnected & plugged. The 7 degree mark is between the 3rd & 4th blade on the impeller to the right of the main brace on the impeller. The closest I can get to that mark is about 1 blade to the right of the main brace.

What am I doing wrong here. The car runs pretty well but I don't know if it's running perfect because I don't know if it's ever been perfect since I had tha car.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Vern

[Tidybuoy]

One more thing. I recently installed a Petronix Ignitor (pointless system) and I'm not sure if this is affecting anything. It seems that the car runs smoother with it and the idle initially raised significantly when first installed.

Also, the car idles very well at 1200 rpm but when I drop it to 900 it feels like it's going to die & idles poorly. I have all new vaccum lines and I don't think there are any vaccum leaks at this time.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

If this whole thing started when you installed the Pertronix, then your installation is suspect. You may have put the Ignitor in the wrong spot inside the distributor--that would change the timing and could result in the symptoms you describe.

If that is the case, you should re-install the Pertronix in a slightly different location.

If the problem existed before the Pertronix, then it is not unlikely that the distributor driveshaft is in at the wrong angle. When cylinder #1 is at TDC, check that the notch in the driveshaft is pretty close to 12 degrees to the right (CCW) of straight fore-and-aft.

If that is the case, then you will need to pull the driveshaft and re-install it. I used a pair of snap-ring pliers to grab the inside of the driveshaft. Twist and pull to get it out. The Type I distributor driveshaft puller I bought did not expand far enough to grab the Type IV one. There is a washer on the bottom of the driveshaft; be careful that it does not drop into the engine!

--DD

[Tidybuoy]

I will take a second look at the Petronix setup.

When I installed it, I removed the distributor & completely cleaned & re-lubed it. At that time, I noticed that the points plate had been previously installed incorrectly as it was out of one of it's holding notches. I will take a second look to make sure "I" installe that correctly.

Is is possible that this plate had been replaced at one point and the wrong model was installed because it dosen't look like you could install the petronix in the wron place since there is only one place to bolt it on.

The reason I got the petronix in the first place is because the car has run irradic since I bought it. I think that just correcting this plate solved most of that problem because it has been running very well ever since - I just don't know if the timing is right or not.

The other thing that I noticed is that the wires for the petronix have very little room to exit the distributor. The hole where the old condenser was is right next to the petronxi unit & I wondered about that when I initially installed it.

Now I have 2 projects this week!!

Thanks for the answers