Timing

[jfrawley]

I set the timing on my '82 Spider to 10 degrees BTDC as the book says to, but it became slow to respond to throtle inputs and seemed under powered. So I timed it by ear like I used to do with my old Chevy's, and it came right back to life. When I hooked the timing light back up it looked to be the same distance away from the mark as 0 is from 10 degrees BTDC; in other words it looked like 20+- degrees BTDC. Should I worry about it, or just be happy it runs good?

[So Cal Mark]

it all depends if you're getting any detonation. Is the mechanical and vacuum advance working?

[jfrawley]

I'm not getting any detonation at all. How do I check the advance?

[So Cal Mark]

rev the engine while using the timing light. The timing mark should move as rpm increases

[jfrawley]

It does not move and the bar coming out of the vacuum advance module does not move either. Checked the hose and there is vacuum present. Bad vacuum module?

[So Cal Mark]

the vacuum advance can't work if there is no vacuum to it. Your dist also has mechanical advance, so the timing should advance even if the vacuum advance isn't working. Without either, you engine will be a dog and that's why more initial advance is needed to make it run. If the mechanical advance isn' working, remove the dist cap and see if the rotor turns at all. I've seen a few dists that had a seized advance mechanism, but it's possible the rotor isn't installed correctly and the advance weights are stuck underneath it

[launieg]

If you find the advance plate does not move, you might want to also check if both the screws holding down the pickup are the right length. I found that I had one that was a hair too long (probably switched from somewhere else by the PO) and was bottoming onto the advance plate, holding it from moving. Just one thing to look for.

[jfrawley]

Launieg.........you are the man! Screws were too long and allowed no movement of advance plate. A small washer between the cap and the advance plate did the trick. Timed right up to 10 degrees BTDC and the advance does what it's supposed to. It runs like a champ. Big issues or small ones, the people on this forum are the very best. Too many other forums really make the novice feel very uncomfortable; but not here. Thanks again for putting up with my silly questions.

[racydave]

It still sounds like the vac advance is not functioning. Take a small hose and apply vaccum ( suck ) if it doesnt hold vac, then its bad. At least plug the hose with a golf tee untill you can replace it.