Timing with Electronic Ignition, How many degrees before TDC? Options

[Ken6432]

I have a '74 914 with dual Weber 44s and a Pertronix Ignitor distributor, with no vacuum advance on it (or mechanical as far as I can tell). Pertronix says that there is no dwell setting for their distributors. They said I would be fine using a static timing technique, but I would be more comfortable using a timing light.

My question is, how many degrees before TDC to I set the timing? Or, am I missing something? It seems I need to know this in order to set the timing correctly.

Thanks for the help.

Ken

[mskala]

I have a '74 914 with dual Weber 44s and a Pertronix Ignitor distributor, with no vacuum advance on it (or mechanical as far as I can tell). Pertronix says that there is no dwell setting for their distributors. They said I would be fine using a static timing technique, but I would be more comfortable using a timing light.

My question is, how many degrees before TDC to I set the timing? Or, am I missing something? It seems I need to know this in order to set the timing correctly.

Thanks for the help.

Ken

The Pertronix Igniter is only an electronic version of the points. It changes nothing
about the ignition system other than 1) points are gone and will not need adjustment
due to wear, and 2) dwell is no longer important, do not bother measuring.

Other than that, follow the same procedure you always have. It's been a long time
since I owned a -4, but on 1.7 and 2.0 you are supposed to check for a 27 degrees
advance at 3500 RPM with vacuum disconnected, which is usually done with the
mark on the fan. If marks are missing or not known to be the right ones, you can
use the TDC mark and a timing light with programmable advance.

If your distributor is not stock, as your message implies, then also it may or may
not have the correct advance curve. Checking that would be something for the
professionals, though.