Flat spot / hesitation

How can I cure a little flat spot or hesitation whenever I step on the gas? It also happens when the car is idling and I hit the gas pedal quickly. I have a pair of stock Kads on a VS built 1776 with 009 distributor and stock everything except for 1.25 Genuine VW rockers. The car starts right up and idles nicely; I would like just to fine tune it to make it more responsive, that's all.

W#hat's the timing set at? On a 009 centrifugal advance, it should be at 30 degrees max at 3000 rpm.

Make sure that's set correctly before we all start recommending new jets.

We'll do Gord!..

Ricardo,

I hate to say it, but it's the 009 that's at fault. We've been going through the same problem with the two race motors. The quick and easy and guaranteed to work fix is an AJ Sims re-curved SVAD distributor and a re-worked driver's side Kadron that's been drilled for a vacuum signal.

Do this, and you'll not believe the difference!

Luck,

TC

Thanks for the pointer TC. JJr had that done to his Kadrons; he also bought AJ Sims' special vacuum advance distributor and then he installed an electronic ignition. Seems to work alright. I kind of like the romantic notion of changing and adjusting points, though (plus it takes me back to the days when my daily driver was a Karmann Ghia; over 20 years ago). We'll try the timing first. Thing is, the car works beautifully otherwise; it starts right up in the morning and it idles great just like a stock 1600 with a single Solex. It's just when you step on it it doesn't respond quickly.

I'm not familiar with those carbs, but in general, those kind of flat spots can come from not enough or no accelerator pump.
Make sure that gas (from the accelerator pump) squirts at the carbs butterfly the instant the carb starts to open.
Aim the flow at the edge of the butterfly that opens first (if the nozzle is adjustable or bendable)

Greg B

I'll check that too; AJ Sims has a section in his website on how to adjust the accelerator pump. I'm suspecting timing and/or that adjustment. A while ago I drove the car and when I stepped on the gas quickly on a strip of highway to pass another car, it hesitated for a while and didn't accelerate smoothly and quickly.

Ricardo
I had a similar problem and correcting the timing as Gordon suggested fixed it.
Troy

I definitely need to get together with JJr (he has a timing light) and do that.

Does the problem improve as the engine warms up? Mine is similar (kadrons)but i figure it is the auto choke not behaving.

I definitely fixed it with the timing light as suggested by Gord/Pat Downs/Gene Berg. Timing now is around 31 degrees BTDC at around 3,000 rpm. The engine starts right up and responds quickly now. And yes, if you don't let the engine warm up a little when first started and take off immediately it will hesitate a little. Definitely don't push on the accelerator pedal too hard at first if you need to take off without warming up. As soon as it warms up it works beautifully.