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Timing: 46-60 degrees off!!

I am new to the VW lifestyle. I have done a good share of researching but I can not find a question to my dilemma.

I recently inherited a 1970 Beetle; I am working with the former owner to get it running. This past weekend we switched out the spark plug wires and adjusted the timing by ear and we finally got the car to idle!!!

The only problem is when the former owner hooked up the timing light to the 1st cylinder (front right cylinder) the 3 notches on the crank wheel weren't anywhere near the top 12 o'clock position. After much searching we found the 3 notches to be around the 10:45 position (if you view the crank wheel as a clock). We turned the distributor while the car was running but could not get the 3 notches anywhere near the top without the engine misfiring. Since the 3 notches are on the left side of the crank wheel I think the engine is running like 60 degrees ahead!

In the current timing position the engine runs great, maybe a little fast but it runs without any assistance from us.

Is there something we are overlooking? We are running stock 009 on a

1600 SP. All the previous posts indicate that any advanced similar to the one we have will kill the pistons and I don't want to do that.
Reply to
rauldejesus
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When you say front do you refer to the front of the car? Cylinder layout:

Front of car.

3 1 4 2

J.

Reply to
P.J. Berg

First check that you are using the timing gun correctly. If it can be dialed to a specific advance, set the dial to 0 degrees. Then the appropriate timing mark on the pulley should line up with the crankcase seam, when the engine idles. If the advance measurements are correct, then there is a problem with the engine, eg. low compression, some valve is leaking etc. Try adjusting the valves (engine should be cold) and the carb, then readjust the advance.

You could not get 50-60 degrees of advance by mixing the spark plug cables etc. That would give an advance about 180degrees off. Also, what kind of distributor are you using? The centrifugal 009 (not stock, does not have any vacum canisters on it) or the original vacum only unit with a part number ending in 009 (the one with a big vacum canister)?

Bill, '67 Bug.

Reply to
Vassilis Spiliotopoulos

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