I want to setup the timing a bit better on my Pinto.
If I'm turning the dizzy body to change the timing is it 100% necessary to shut down the engine for each adjustment? Heynes manual says so but I
wondered if it's possible to do it 'hot' and just adjust it while the engines running.
Is that plan dangerous or just stupid?
Thanks,
James
I do it all the time, make sure the bolt is tight enough to hold the dizzy but still let it turn with some resistance.
I find it's the only way to do it with the timing light. You need to run it to check the advance is working anyway. Look how far from the mark it goes when you rev it, you'll be surprised.
When I owned cars with dizzys you had to adjust I always di it 'on the run' so to speak. A word of caution though, if the insulation is iffy
or if your leads are in poor condition you can get an HT belt off it. Not fatal, just unpleasant and annoying, If you can get a pair of thick rubber
gloves it is a good idea, might save you from a 'tingle'
A friend of mine told me the following recently:
Many years ago he was passenger in a mates car which conked out. His mate told him the only way to check if there was a spark was for him to hold onto
the car and put the HT lead on his tongue....
oh how they laughed when he couldn't stand up afterwards!
He told me that even then it took him ages to realise this wasn't the way you had to do it every time they broke down!
Cheers for the advice,
James
James
Get it somewhere near then phone your local "hometune" place.
They've got all the gear and it's only £30 or so.
Cheers
Chris
Nah don't worry, I've got a timing light. Was gonna have to learn to use it at some point.
And if it doesn't work there's always The Conrod!
Cheers,
James
i dont think the conrod will have much to do with setting up the timing, and doing anything to the conrod in terms of modification or fettling will be a huge amount of work if you already have the engine together.
Have you got a lumpy cam in it James? If you have, then to get the best out of the engine, you need to alter the ignition curve completely. Dave
Andrew covers it well on his web site. it does however mean taking the dizzy to pieces and playing with various springs, also you've no chance of
doing it unless you have a decent timing light where you can 'dial in' the required setting.
Check DA's site here.
quote:
Originally posted by colmaccoll
i dont think the conrod will have much to do with setting up the timing, and doing anything to the conrod in terms of modification or fettling will be a huge amount of work if you already have the engine together.
quote:
Originally posted by Jimbo
Have you got a lumpy cam in it James?
James, Dry as a nuns whatsit today, very bored and had my twat head on
quote:
Originally posted by James
A friend of mine told me the following recently:
Many years ago he was passenger in a mates car which conked out. His mate told him the only way to check if there was a spark was for him to hold onto the car and put the HT lead on his tongue....
oh how they laughed when he couldn't stand up afterwards!