mgs
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Timing Questions

To: "Ross A. Goldberg" <loki@computek.net>, mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Timing Questions
From: Dirk de Boer <deboer@duke.usask.ca>
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 09:58:08 -0800 (PST)


On Sat, 23 Mar 1996, Ross A. Goldberg wrote:

> 1) Haynes lists 14 and 12 degrees depending on if I have high compression or
> low compression... how do I know that?

What's your engine number? 
 
> 2) Is there some secret to getting the distibutor to turn?  I loosened the
> bolt that hold it tight but it wouldn't budge and finally got hot that I
> couldn't tough it.

You'll have to remove the distributor and the clamping plate from the 
block. Once you have done that you can work on the clamping plate so 
that it allows the distributor to turn. 

> 3) Haynes says to time at 600 rpm but I couldn't get it lower than 750, is
> that a problem.

Common. I don't think there is an MGB on this planet that idles at 600 
rpm. Don't forget to disconnect and plug the vacuum line to the 
distributor.

> Also, in general what does a high setting do?  Better performance?  Better
> Gas Mileage?  Better anything?

Better performance, but don't advance it too much or your engine will 
ping.
 
> Also (again) the reason I am adjusting the timing is that the car is slugish
> under hard acceleration... in the higher rpms it tends to give little
> backfires.  Normal driving seems fine, but when I hit the pedal to speed up
> the car some times slows down... not a good thing <g>

Checking and changing the timing is part of a package. Just doing the 
timing is not going to work unless everything else is perfect and the 
timing has gone off because of a loose distributor. I would give the 
car a full tune-up (adjust valves, bring the ignition system up to speed, 
check and adjust the carbs).

Dirk


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>