Timing - 20 dgrs BTDC

R

rarbowman

New Member
??? The Rover V8 in my MG Costello is performing very well indeed, with no hesitation or misfire. HOWEVER when I sent it in today for some carb work I told them to check the timing and set it to 5dgrs btdc at 550 rpm. The garage told me that after using 2 different strobes they could only set it to 20 btdc.
Their view is that either the dizzy is knackered, (yet it runs well) or the timing marks are out of position.

Your collective wisdom please gents!!
Rob
 
If they can only set it to 20 BTDC because the distributor fouls the manifold it could be it is incorrectly set on the cam gear or the camchain could have jumped. I think you need to find a garage that's a bit more familiar with the engines or have a go yourself, setting the timing statically first of all, then doing it by strobe. Remember to set the dwell (if it's not electronic) before you set the timing.
 
Thanks for that, It is not fouling the manifold, the reson for 20dgrs is it will not run properly at a lower advance.

It does not pink or run on and there is no 'back spit' I run on Shell Optimax plus valvemaster plus
 
Taking what you've been told at face value, it's easy to check if the timing marks are out of position. Remove No1 plug, carefully insert a thin screwdriver in the hole and rotate the engine by hand so you can feel with the screwdriver when the piston is at TDC. Then look at the marks on the pulley to see if they read correctly. If you do this and report your findings we can move on to the next stage.
 
timing marks don't move, it is only the pointer that can.

the timing can be altered just by moving the ignition leads by 1 cylinder on the distributor cap.
 
02GF74 said:
timing marks don't move, it is only the pointer that can.
Click to expand...
Thats true, but with the number of applications the V8 has been used in it's possible that some had the marks on the pulley in a different position relative to the woodruff key. And there are various pointers as well dependant on front cover etc.Particularly in this instance as it's a conversion.
 
many thanks for your input. The car is going back in tomorrow as it is running very weak with a co reading of under 3. I have told them to put it back to just over the mot limit of 4.5 and to retime it then. I will repost after
 
Maybe thats the key here Harvey - an MG installation is going to need the shortest possible engine so will have "won" a P5/6/SD1 front cover if it didn't have one to start with. No guarantee the pulley and front cover pointer will have been compatible.

Chris
 
Carbs HS6's have been retuned to give 4.7co and car is much more tractable.
The vacuum pipe gong to the dizzy has hardly any suction. and if you put your thumb on the nipple (got to be careful here!) that goes into the carb, the same lack is there. How much should there be? because on tickover the servo sucks like a Dyson
Rob
 
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