Distributor help, a noobie question Options

[weird_looking_cactus]

Well I had my car running pretty good on 2 pistions it would idle good and when I pressed on the gas it go up just slow. Then I decied to fix the other 2 pistions now its running on all four (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif). But I really mess around with the distrubutor by turning the whole thing and the distrubutor moves really easy now and I can't seem to get it into that sweet spot again so it will stay at a idle. I can get it to start up but then it just dies or will stay at a idle super low idle for about 10 seconds. So how do I make the distributor tight and how do I find the right spot for it to stay running. Thanks

[lapuwali]

First, if you don't have one, buy a Haynes manual. It will provide you with a LOT of info a lot faster then asking questions on this board will. There are also some tech articles on Pelican's site that cover ignition timing.

Before you set static timing, make sure the points gap is correct. Haynes will have the correct figure. You can set the static timing with the key off with points. There are several ways to do this. One that works for me:

1. set the engine at TDC on cylinder 1 on the compression stroke (both valves closed).
2. make sure the rotor is pointing roughly where the plug wire for cylinder 1 should be. Rotate the dizzy body until it is.
3. if the points are open, rotate the body anti-clockwise until they're closed.
4. insert a thin strip of paper between the points, pointing up, not touching the dizzy body
5. slowly rotate the body clockwise until the paper falls (points just opened). Thats the point where the plug fires.

Your timing is now set to fire at TDC. This is too retarded, but the engine should at least start and continue to run. Once it's running, slowly rotate the dizzy body anti-clockwise (this advances the ignition) until the idle stops speeding up. This shouldn't require more than 3-5 distributor degrees, a very small amount. If the engine won't start with the timing set at TDC, try advancing the ignition a tiny amount, and repeat until the engine fires, or you've moved the distributor more than 10 degrees. If you have to move it this far, you've done something wrong, or there's some other problem.

Once the engine will idle on its own, set the timing correctly with a timing light.

If you have no idea how old the points and condensor are, replace them. They're cheap and easy to replace. If you can't get the car to start and run, replace them and try again. If you can't get a spark at all using Dave's test, these parts or your coil are bad. Coils are also fairly cheap and easy to replace (and hard to test on their own).