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All,

I finally got around to looking at the timing on my 3.8 following the instructions from Alec in a previous thread entitled ignition timing which cylinder.

After warming the engine and disconnecting the vacuum advance, my timing is showing OFF THE SCALE on my timing gun. Even when dialling in 60 degrees of advance, the 0 degree marker on the pully is a mile off. Basically if you think of the pointer at the bottom of the engine below the pully as the number 6 on a clock face, the timing mark for zero degrees on the pully is at about 3 oclock with 60 degrees dialled in!

I have set it by ear, and it now shows at 4 on the clock with 60 degrees dialled in.

It seems to run ok - but clearly I haven't got a clue what the true timing is and I must be doing something wrong.

If I dial out the advance on the gun, by the way, the mark disappears back up around the clock somewhere and comes around toward the mark in a clockwise direction the more you advance it on the gun.

Any help appreciated.

Tim

Hello Tim,

my first reaction is that you are on the wrong plug lead? I would firstly double check which cylinder you are taking the timing from?

Alec

Alec,

Sorted it - when my car engine was rebuilt, they garage changed the pully to a later smaller type and at the same time put a second timing pointer to the left of the engine - under the alternator.

The timing is set up to use this pointer not the pointer at the bottom on the sump!

Using the new pointer, I have set it and checked it at idle and at 3500 revs. It is spot on now and running as sweet as it should.

Thanks for the support Alec.

Hello Tim,

I certainly would not have thought of that.

Glad you got it sorted.

Alec