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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Timing with one person

Posted by: bd1308 Mar 1 2005, 08:07 AM

usually there is one person to rev and me to move the dizzy. Is it possible for me to do both or something?

Posted by: vsg914 Mar 1 2005, 08:11 AM

Sure. hold the light, rev it up to 3 grand, check where it needs to go, let the idle drop move the diz a little, and recheck it. repeat process till ya get it right. Oh yeah, leave the diz slightly tight so it don't move by itself.

Posted by: bd1308 Mar 1 2005, 08:15 AM

speaking of that...what should i rev to? 3200 or 3500....i cant remember. I have a 74 D-jet 2.0

Posted by: vsg914 Mar 1 2005, 08:25 AM

It'll be around 3000 somewhere. When it stops moving around and stays steady, your there.

Posted by: joes Mar 1 2005, 08:26 AM

It's pretty hard to do by yourself. Holding the timing light while standing your head and adjusting the dist. is hard enough much less modulating the throttle. I've tried it before with not much success. I have also tried the wife at the throttle method but that's not much better. Every time you bring the timing closer the throttle changes which makes it harder still. I usually get it close by ear and drive it to dial it in. Try to stay on the retarted side vs. the advanced side. Electronic ignition helps to stabilize everything also. Good luck, Joe.

Posted by: Joe Sharp Mar 1 2005, 11:39 AM

I do it. Laying on my belly, peering down into the timing light hole, holding on to the timing light and working the throttel with the other and adjusting the dist all at the same time. I could not do if I had To stand UP. I would kill my back.
Joe

Posted by: bd1308 Mar 1 2005, 11:40 AM

never thought of it, but i could tape the timing light button....that would leave one hand free to turn the dizzy

Posted by: scott thacher Mar 1 2005, 11:50 AM

heres a system i have heard works, just a minor vairation of the others. go to PP and print the little paper thing to mark the 7.5 degree mark. time it at idle to 7.5, rev to 3 k and check it, should be close. if it was too adavnced or retarded change the timing at idle, and recheck, when you get it spot on remark the fan so you have a idle timing mark. in the future you time to the idle mark and just check it at 3 k.

its a variation base on the fact that if you dont have a mark at idle it becomes tricky to eyeball it

Posted by: jkeyzer Mar 1 2005, 12:33 PM

It's not that hard. Rev motor with left hand, use one of those tach/dwell gauges so you can watch the RPMs from the engine bay. Move dizzy with right hand, check timing, rinse, repeat.

PS: Make sure you disconnect both vacuum hoses from the dizzy first. And double check the RPMs but I think it is 3500.

Posted by: ArtechnikA Mar 1 2005, 12:44 PM

and if you have a /6, just *TRY* not to think about the belt slicing off your thumb. i dare you...

Posted by: bd1308 Mar 1 2005, 12:47 PM

nope i have a /4.....so i dont have to think.

Posted by: Toast Mar 1 2005, 12:54 PM

Yup, its possible. Seems a little monotonus though. Especially if you dont know what 3000 rpm sounds like, and you set it too high, then too low, then.....

Actually, its not really that bad.

Posted by: Dave_Darling Mar 1 2005, 01:00 PM

It's not that hard, people... (This is for the D-jet cars; L-jet and carbs use different timing procedures.)

Just lay on the rear deck lid. Use one hand to open the throttle valve. You can look through the window to see if the tach is somewhere above 3500 RPM--you're trying to get the advance "all in", which means "about" 3000 RPM or more. Listen to the sound of the motor at 3500 or wherever, and remember the sound.

Rev the motor up to where it makes that 3500 RPM sound, get your head in place and shoot the timing light at the fan. See if you can tell "about" how far off the correct mark is from the notch--it's not hard to estimate by the number of fan blades. "Well, it's about 3/4 of one fan blade to the left." Let go of the throttle and let the engine come back to idle. Keep the timing light on the fan, then turn the distributor so that it moves the fan blades "about" the noted distance. Grab the throttle body, open it until the engine makes the 3500 RPM sound (and the fan stops moving in the timing light) and check the timing mark versus the notch. Repeat this process until you're spot-on.

Note that this is a whole lot easier if you extend the factory timing mark... I have painted the top of the fan blade closest to the mark so that I don't have to get my face right in there next to the fan.

Oh, and remember that you need to disconnect the vacuum line(s) that are plugged into the distributor vacuum dashpot before you do the above procedure.

--DD

Posted by: 914fan Mar 1 2005, 01:10 PM

Get an advance light and use it to set the timing. use the TDC mark on the fan.
Bring up the rpm and check the mark. set the gun down and adjust the dist. Check again. over and over until it is perfect. let the engine idle and use the guns advance to your advance at idle. Remember it and the idle speed, in the future just set idle and check total. So long as your idle speed does not change much youe total advance will be good. If your idle speed changes you need to start over.

I got a digital advance light because I was told that the TDC mark is more accurate than the advance markings. I was told that apples to ALL vehicles. It makes sense.

Posted by: lapuwali Mar 1 2005, 01:12 PM

QUOTE (Dave_Darling @ Mar 1 2005, 11:00 AM)
It's not that hard, people... (This is for the D-jet cars; L-jet and carbs use different timing procedures.)

Just lay on the rear deck lid. Use one hand to open the throttle valve. You can look through the window to see if the tach is somewhere above 3500 RPM--you're trying to get the advance "all in", which means "about" 3000 RPM or more. Listen to the sound of the motor at 3500 or wherever, and remember the sound.

Rev the motor up to where it makes that 3500 RPM sound, get your head in place and shoot the timing light at the fan. See if you can tell "about" how far off the correct mark is from the notch--it's not hard to estimate by the number of fan blades. "Well, it's about 3/4 of one fan blade to the left." Let go of the throttle and let the engine come back to idle. Keep the timing light on the fan, then turn the distributor so that it moves the fan blades "about" the noted distance. Grab the throttle body, open it until the engine makes the 3500 RPM sound (and the fan stops moving in the timing light) and check the timing mark versus the notch. Repeat this process until you're spot-on.

Note that this is a whole lot easier if you extend the factory timing mark... I have painted the top of the fan blade closest to the mark so that I don't have to get my face right in there next to the fan.

Oh, and remember that you need to disconnect the vacuum line(s) that are plugged into the distributor vacuum dashpot before you do the above procedure.

--DD

Having one of those timing lights with the adjustment knob on the back makes this easier. Just set the knob to what the timing is supposed to be, and repeat the rev, adjust, rev, adjust procedure until the mark matches.

Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 1 2005, 01:17 PM

ive done it...lay on your tunk lid...one had do the dizzy....one hand do the throttle..... look down the whol and at the tach

Posted by: Toast Mar 1 2005, 01:40 PM

QUOTE (Aaron Cox @ Mar 1 2005, 12:17 PM)
ive done it...lay on your tunk lid...one had do the dizzy....one hand do the throttle..... look down the whol and at the tach

That would work great unless you have a sticker in the way if the tach.

Posted by: bd1308 Mar 1 2005, 01:45 PM

i'll just probably bribe someone $5 to to the throttle thing for me....college students will do just about anything for 5 bucks

Posted by: Tom Perso Mar 1 2005, 01:50 PM

Some college chicks do it for less...

Later,
Tom

Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 1 2005, 01:55 PM

QUOTE (Tom Perso @ Mar 1 2005, 12:50 PM)
Some college chicks do it for less...

Later,
Tom

Posted by: Toast Mar 1 2005, 02:10 PM

you can get "Anyting" for five dalla.

(just ask Aaron.)

Posted by: mattillac Mar 1 2005, 02:47 PM

you know what i found out? alot of work to be done on a 914 is easier with the engine lid off. two bolts and BLAMMO!! mucho access to the engine. just an idea. but beware of rusty lid hinge mounts.