ignition timing

[steve92]

evening all. am wanting to check my timing as i have recently changed points.going to purchase a timing light. the timing mark on my pulley has been highlighted, so is it just a case of of adjusting the dizzy till it lines up in time with the strobe? have a stock recon with 009 dizzy.

 

[VWAIRCOOLED]

When timing a 009 dizzy you're better off timing it at 32 BTDC at 3000 RPM. This is because you want the advance to be right at higher revs rather than idle to get a better response,less overheating etc.

Or ditch the 009 and get a vacuum dizzy.

Check the valve clearances and dwell angle too before doing the timing if you can.

 

[steve92]

the old 009 doesnt seem that popular! what are the advantages of switching back to vac advance? have seen repros for about £50. are any of these any good do you know?

 

[chippi]

the old 009 doesnt seem that popular! what are the advantages of switching back to vac advance? have seen repros for about £50. are any of these any good do you know?

I didnt think it would make much difference untill i swapped a 009 for a bosch vac advance, not any different top end but a vast improvement on low speed town driving, much smoother and you dont have to rev it so hard when pulling away.
Better mpg as well (or at least i think).
Im running a pict34 carb as well. go for the best you can afford, get a bosch vac or an original if you can find it.

 

[Tofufi]

I bought a good condition, working Bosch vac dizzy (original) for £5 at Stanford Hall the other week. The S/H one before that I paid £20 for, and I thought that was a lot. I only bought it as my van is my daily and I was in a hurry. Now I've got a spare.

I wouldn't spend £50 on a brand new repro one. Just find a good condition used one.

 

[steve92]

sounds like a plan! cheers.steve.

 

[Tofufi]

Does your van have a single or twinport engine?

There are two main different types of distributor. You'll need the right one to get the right advance curve. There were actually several small differences between each of the major types, but any will work ok as long as you get a single or twinport one.

 

[steve92]

tis a twin port.

 

[Tofufi]

If you have the original engine, you can see the original part number it would have had here:

note that the information above shows all pre '71 buses as being single port, and all post '71 buses as being type 4 powered.

The distributor shown for the 1971 van will be correct for a van 1600 twinport.

http://www.oldvolkshome.com/ignition.htm

Lots to read up on

Many of them are interchangeable.

I can't see anything suitable on eBay at the minute, however.

Jim.

 

[steve92]

cheers jim.ill have a look.

 

[steve92]

to add another twist! how about the 009 with electronic ignition? would this be another plan?

 

[Tofufi]

The 009 with electric ignition still has the same advance curve as the 009.

And it still doesn't have a vac advance to increase fuel economy and throttle response.

So I'd stick with the plan of getting a vac dizzy
You get more low-down power and need fewer revs while pulling away, for starters.

I *think* you can get electronic ignition modules to fit vac advance dizzies.

 

[steve92]

ok cheers jim.just been reading up on setting timing, idle speed and spark advance. seemed a bit mind boggling to start with,but i think its slowing sinking in! :?

 

[steve92]

just found this.sounds ok? he says its working fine and selling due to 1776 upgrade.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-CAMPER-BEETLE-Distributor-with-ELECTRONIC-IGNITION_W0QQitemZ150247963791QQihZ005QQcategoryZ27385QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Guest]

for those running duel carbs? you cant run a vac dizzy to easily, most use a 009? :?

 

[Tofufi]

for those running duel carbs? you cant run a vac dizzy to easily, most use a 009? :?

I'm running a SVDA with my twin 40mm Kadrons on my beetle 1641. Most (smaller) carbs have the drillings for enabling vacuum to be used, just most are blanked off. I think the 123 distributor is recommended for larger engines? I've no personal experience of them.

Steve92, I *think* that one on eBay is a dual vacuum one - with two vacuum cans, one to retard the timing and one to advance it. They were apparently quite troublesome in the 1970s and no-one runs them any more.
I'd hold out for a single vacuum / mechanical advance distributor.

I've been looking through eBay the last few days and can't find any SVDA distributors on there at the minute.

 

[steve92]

ok thanks again jim! really appreciate your help. steve.

 

[ProfessorWheeto]

123 can be set for a stock engine, also means you won't have to upgrade if you ever do anything else to your engine. Quite pricey though.
http://doctune.co.uk/

 

[Guest]

pertronix do a billet dizzy.. would it be any good for a stock 1600 running 36 idfs?

http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=1477