Igntion Timing - 1.3

[JMallows]

Hi, have recently changed the distributor, coil and TCI-H switch, so needed to get the timing done. Borrowed a light with dial from a mate and set it to about 10Deg BTDC. I think i might have got it a bit wrong though...

• The plugs are very clean (suggesting lean/overheating caused by either mixture or too much advance?)
• The car backfires a little on downhill engine braking etc
• When you accelerate gently is ok, but press pedal further and it seems to hesitate/bog down

Two questions then.
1) The haynes book says 5 deg +/- 1Deg for the timing (so i might have it a bit high anyway). However, i have a Weber carb, and i read somewhere they need more advance. Should i set it 5-6Deg?
2) Looking at this picture

On the left pic its easy to see. Is this the 5Deg mark marked as B on the right pic and C is TDC? If so, do i set the gun to 0DEG BTDC nd line up the mark on the flywheel with that mark, or set the gun to 5DEG and line up? If that mark is 5DEG, and C is TDC, then i assume i can set gun to either 0DEG and line up with the pointy mark, or set gun to 5DEG and line up with the TDC mark (C) and both will provide the same result?

Thanks

[JMallows]

Also, the gun i used said to connect to no.1 spark plug lead. Which is the no.1 cylinder, furthest from distributor or closest? Does it matter which its connected to? Also, should i connect as close to plug as possible, or as close to distributor as possible?

Thanks

[Craigwilson]

No 1 plug is closest to the timing belt side and where on the lead shouldn't matter but the clip might have to be on the right direction

[gazareth]

you can hook it up to plug 1 or 4. works fine on either. there should be an arrow on clip that should point to sparkplug. and as craig said it can go anywhere on the lead. well anywhere but the rubber boots on the ends of course.

[JMallows]

Ok thanks. But, do i set gun to 0 DEG and point it at the 6 DEG mark on (or 0 DEG and point to TDC) or set it to 6DEG on the gun and point at the 6DEG mark?

Thanks

[gazareth]

set the gun to 6 degrees and time it of the tdc mark on pulley. or set gun to 0 degrees and time of 6 degree mark on pulley. I would do it first way though. just that bit easier to see the tdc mark on the pulley.

[JMallows]

Excellent, thats what i thought. I did it originally on about 10 DEG from the 6 Deg mark, so it is probebly on about 16 DEG then!?

Does anyone know whether the weber should have factory settings, or a bit more advance? I have heasrd the best thing to do is set the advance quite high, and then back it off until it stops pinking. The trouble is, i dont know when its pinking, i have no experience of pinking.

Thanks

[gazareth]

yeah that would have been 16 degrees. pinking to me sounds like someone making a fry up under your bonnet lol.

[JMallows]

Ok, dont think its pinking then! Will try it on 6DEG advance and see how it goes.

Thanks

[gazareth]

to be honest I don't see why it would need more advance just with a carb swap. if the engine was highly modified it would need a recurved distributor. but with just a weber upgrade it should be ok at factory timing mark. are you sure its not backfiring because its running lean? is the carb properly jetted for engine?