Ignition timing question

F

fried okra

Senior Member
I had my distributor out for a rebuild with new shaft etc.

Put the dizzy back in, front piston at TDC, timing pin on dimple seemingly.

Used the NuRex timing pin 3 turns etc per directions.

Ignition retarded, and Tudor starts back up.

Advance timing and the engine speed drops.....didn't expect that.

Something simple is not right.

Any thoughts what is wrong?

THX!!
 
For mine I did similar to yours with TDC on engine (where dimple is in the cam gear indent). I put my timing lever two clicks down, but unlike you I just turned my wrench to line up the arrow on the wrench to the #3 ignition lead (towards you to the left if I recall correctly) like the instructions on the wrench say. No need to spin it three times.

If it runs very good at full retard I would say that you timed your engine to be too advanced. It should run well at idle only if you are advanced some. And by well I mean you don't get the characteristic skip at idle when the RPMs are slightly lower.
 
Turn over engine my hand until points are fully open and check clearance. It should be 0.020. Put the pin in the dimple on the cam gear. Retard the spark lever all the way. Loosen screw on distributor cam. Rotate the cam counter clockwise until points open. Rotate the cam clockwise until points just close. Use your eyeball or an ohm meter. Tighten screw. Check to see that the rotor is pointing to #1 plug. It helps to have a little drag on the cam with the screw not tight but not loose.

Now rotate the cam counter clockwise and the points should just open. Rotate the cam back and forth to double check that the points are closed when the cam is turned clockwise and open when the cam is turned counter clockwise. You should be able to rotate the cam a little bit due to backlash in the gears and slots/keys.

Take the NuRex tool and put it in the trash.
 
With your spark lever all the way at the top, is the upper plate spark lever touching the side of the opening in the upper distributor body?

Once upon a time, I had the lever unhooked. I put the lever on the column in the full up position and started to time the car. OOps.
 
Here is a pic when the pin's in the dimple, the advance is full up, and the points are set at .020. The points are just about to open. Not open.
 

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  • Distributor timed correctly.jpg
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A balanced rotor and upper shaft along with a polished cam should give a lengthy life time for the shaft bushings, ehh????
 
Yep, Rob Doe, that's where my rotor was for timing.....

The counter weighted rotor you have helps take slack out of the system when rotating I guess?
 
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