Gt6 timing question

[rulloyd]

Another query re timing.  
 

My car (GT6mk2) is almost complete and back on the road again.  Final step, adjusting the timing.  My car has newtronic electronic ignition so I figure standard 10 degrees btdc is probably not right.

Using the ‘find the point of pinking’ route, I have reached about 18 degrees btdc, no pinking.  This can’t be right surely?   Car driving well throughout the range! 

Maybe I just can’t hear it!  Yes, I’m familiar with what pinking sounds like (although my hearing isn’t what it was!)
 

thanks for any advice.

Rich

 

[johny]

Type of ignition wont make much difference to where timing should be set but fuel could! First are you sure that the distributor is working as it should ie. the timing advances as you increase engine revs? You can compare the advance change with the manual figures using a strobe (and earplugs).

Then you might have seen on here that people are experimenting with advancing the timing beyond the standard 10º because of the ethanol we now get in our fuel. The suspicion is that the burn is taking longer so to still have it completed at the right point in the combustion cycle it needs to start earlier so timing should be advanced. I believe some are increasing up to figure you have but its best done in steps with a regular check on sparkplug colour because pinking at high revs could be hard to hear and damaging....

[Iain T]

My MK2 Vitesse is at 14-15 degrees with no pinking using Tesco Momentum and a calibrated distributor. As Johny advised it may be you have a dodgy advance. I wouldn't advance any further until you check out the advance curve.

Iain

[rulloyd]

Ok thanks.  The distributor was recently reconditioned so I’m hopeful it’s ok.  But I’ll do as suggested.
 

you wouldn’t expect the timing would be less than 10 degrees would you?  My mates vitesse is set to 8 degrees 😳

Rich

[johny]

There was a stage where less than the manual setting was sometimes necessary because the specified 101 octane fuel (5 star) was no longer available and engines pinked on the 4 star 98. However now with ethanol we might have gone full circle and need to start going back the other way - god knows where we'll be when E15 comes in😲

[Pete Lewis]

if you worry about E   buy esso  it doesnt have any E's  

synergy+ 99ron , it says on the pump it does but they dont .(or didnt) 

Pete

[Pete Lewis]

dont forget  excessive BTDC  will put a high load through the pistons  even without pinking 

Pete

[Nigel Clark]

Good advice about checking the distributor auto advance.

It's also worth checking whether the timing marks on the crank pulley are accurate. They have been known to slip as the torsion damper rubber degrades, allowing the inner and outer sections of the pulley to move relative to each other. Not really surprising if the rubber part of the pulley has degraded after almost 60 years in a hot, oily environment! 

Try setting the engine at TDC using a dial gauge or piston stop through No. 1 plug hole , then check if the TDC timing mark on the pulley matches the pointer on the timing case. 

Nigel

[johny]

Yes as has been done on here previously the best way is find your optimum timing on a rolling road. Of course then each batch of fuel can vary🤣

[Iain T]

1 hour ago, rulloyd said:

My mates vitesse is set to 8 degrees 😳

At that setting he's missing a few horses!

[johny]

Does seem low but then each engine is different (wear, cleanliness, mixture setting, running temperature?) and thats only the standard ones...

[Pete Lewis]

lets go back to use your ears,   turn the dizzy to get the fastest idle and back it off a bit 

then check for pinking , a bit more small adjustments and you have the optimum with the kit in its 

own condition .

Pete