Engine timing

[philh]

Why is it seen as such a black art to check and set the distributor timing. I ahve been working on various cars for over 20 years (since i was 12) and have always been able to find out the timing for a car and set it using a strobe light.

I cant find the information for my chimp 4.0 anywhere regarding what the timing should be just "see a speacilist"


cheerrs phil

[Chimpafrolic]

philh said:

Why is it seen as such a black art to check and set the distributor timing. I ahve been working on various cars for over 20 years (since i was 12) and have always been able to find out the timing for a car and set it using a strobe light.

I cant find the information for my chimp 4.0 anywhere regarding what the timing should be just "see a speacilist"


cheerrs phil

• 8 degrees of advance at an 800rpm idle (advance commences at 1000 rpm to show 10 degrees)

• 28 degrees of advance at 4,000 rpm with vac advanced disconnected.

But don't tell anyone, its a secret.

[philh]

It is a pre serp engine, is the TDC mark easy to find, thanks for the info!

Edited by philh on Friday 1st April 21:49

[carsy]

I`ve just rebuilt my engine, pre serp, and when checking TDC against where the pointer was it was miles out. Always worth checking for true TDC first.

[SILICONE KID]

You need one of these to find the true TDC then re mark the pulley

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sealey-TDC-Dial-Gauge-Indica...

[blitzracing]

Genarally you just need the Haynes manual for the Range Rover Classic for the basic ignition stuff / layout.

[philh]

I aint even looked yet, first run out yesterday and tickover was erratic at temp so going to check stepper motor, timing, air leaks etc. But i like to have all the information before i start ;-)

Quinny said:

philh said:

It is a pre serp engine, is the TDC mark easy to find, thanks for the info!
]

Not being funny mate, but if you can't even find the TDC pointer, it's little wonder you find it a black art

[carsy]

spend said:

You are supposed to set it when you build the engine... No point blaming anyone else in that event... Its clamped with an elongated hole so that you set it to TDC....

No wonder they made them fixed & idiot proof on the later engines, what is the world coming to

Yes i know that. My findings were on strip down.

[Alexdaredevilz]

Chimpafrolic said:

• 8 degrees of advance at an 800rpm idle (advance commences at 1000 rpm to show 10 degrees)

• 28 degrees of advance at 4,000 rpm with vac advanced disconnected.

But don't tell anyone, its a secret.

I used these measurements, but the timing marks were so far out I lost alot of power and torque,

Every engine is different, your engine for eg might like X degrees advance where as another engine almost the same will like X degrees for better efficiently

See pic below of the gain I had from adjusting mine from the recommend advance and timing mark to best power on a dyno

So if it was me in your position id get it running, then go straight to a dyno