Timing ... Is that right ?

Krusty

Hello all, I have been reading a lot recently on VW timing and I am trying to understand how my engine should be timed and why is it timed that way right now.

First of all, the engine run smooth, a bit thirsty but its getting me up the hills as it should.

I run a 1915cc (I was told... not easy to confirm) with dual 44 webbers, stock 009 centrifugal distributors with points. Fuel wise up here in Montreal I usually run between 91 to 94 octane with no additive. Nothing fancy.

With a timing light I can see it being timed at 4 degrees at idle, by reading all kind of threads here and on other forums I think it should be around 7.5 to 8 but ... I am reaching out for experience here. Should I tweak that or not and if yes ... what number should I aim for (at idle and Higher revs) ?

Thanks all for the inputs.

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6/3/175:20 AM

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WOLFGANG'89 CMC FWB, FL Supporting Member

With the 009 you are concerned more with timing for the max advance of 30 degrees at 3000 rpms. Here's good write up on timing the dastardly 009 -

http://www.vw-resource.com/009_dizzy.html

Best to adjust valves and point dwell (gap) first before timing.

6/3/175:59 AM

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Stan Galat

The standard "009" (which may mean anything, since there are about 20 different east Asian clones) is notorious for having a somewhat irregular advance curve. As a result, nobody times them at idle, since that matters a lot less than "total" advance, which really needs to be all in by 3000 rpm (2800 would be better).

The quantity of advance, when it starts, when it finishes, and the shape of the curve are not adjustable. It's a very crude way to do something that really matters.

Everybody bags on Webers, but they are an order of magnitude more sophisticated than the truly awful ignition almost everybody runs. It's said that 95% of all fuel problems are spark, and I believe that with all my heart.

Good luck. Forewarned is forearmed.

6/3/1710:23 AM

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Gordon NicholsMassachusetts 1993 CMC Supporting Member

Stan is on point - Trying to set the idle advance on a centrifugal distributor is fruitless.

Have someone sit in the driver's seat and hold the engine speed at 2,800 - 3,000 rpm and THEN set your distributor advance to 30° max advance. That's it. No, the advance curve on the 009 isn't terrific (the 010 is somewhat better) but it's OK for most driving if you're not fussy.

Have fun with it!

6/3/174:21 PM

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Michael McKelveyAnn Arbor Supporting Member

It is still not clear to me how to vary where maximum advance occurs. It seems like that is determined by the internals of the distributor and not something that can be adjusted when setting the timing.

I just set my maximum advance to 28 or 30 degrees without really knowing how many rpms when that advance is reached.

Please enlighten me.

6/12/1711:01 AM

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WOLFGANG'89 CMC FWB, FL Supporting Member

The 009 advance is supposedly all in (max advance of 28-32 degrees) by 2500-2600 rpms. So if you time at 2000 rpm it probably hasn't fully advanced. but it surely will be by 3k! Suspect you could change the internal weights/springs to lighter or heavier to alter the max in RPMs. The 009 is just an inexpensive, imprecise distributor most recommend the 0010.

Couple good articles -

http://eswebs.com/site/blog/vo...9-distributor-tuning

http://www.vw-resource.com/009_history.html

6/12/1711:30 AM

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