In this case, just attach the red clip on the strobe light to any convenient 12-volt power source. If your car is equipped with a Capacitive Discharge Ignition system, power to the coil is provided indirectly through the CDI unit. Alternately (and perhaps more conveniently), you can use the positive terminal on the alternator. We use the terminal on the right side of the coil (the one with the wires to the automatic choke, backup lights and idle solenoid - terminal #15). Power to the strobe light is provided through the red clip.Observe the arrow on the clip pointing to the spark plug (if there is such an arrow). Attach the inductive pick-up clip on the timing light around the #1 spark plug wire, close to the spark plug and away from the other spark plug wires to avoid interference.Make sure that the maximum advance timing mark is clearly visible on the crankshaft pulley (i.e., marked with white paint).Set the parking brake firmly and block the wheels.The centrifugal-advance portions of these distributors vary - if the maximum advance is set to the correct 28-30o BTDC at 3500 rpm, an idle timing in the range of 5-8o BTDC should result. Ideally it should be 28-30o advanced at 3500 rpm, then should return to something close to 7.5o BTDC at idle (900 rpm).
Summary regarding vacuum hoses during timing: Just make sure the vacuum ports on both the carburetor and the intake manifold are plugged so air won't be sucked in during timing.įor these distributors, the advance timing is more important than the idle timing. Be sure to plug it such that air will not be sucked into the intake manifold. For BOTH the centrifugal-advance (009) and SVDA distributors - if there is a vacuum hose running from a port in the intake manifold under the carburetor up to the air cleaner, this hose must be removed and plugged as well, for the same reason. The vacuum line on the single-vacuum dual advance (SVDA) distributors must be removed from the vacuum canister on the distributor and plugged to prevent air from being sucked into the carburetor during timing. Important Note regarding vacuum lines:When timing the vacuum-only distributor, the vacuum line(s) must be attached. Again, this is the APPROXIMATE timing setting at idle. This means that as you view the 7.5o mark at the crankcase split (with the strobe), the TDC mark on the pulley will be about 11.5mm to the LEFT of the crankcase split when the distributor is properly timed. The approximate idle timing setting for the centrifugal advance distributor (009), the single-vacuum distributor, and the vacuum-advance only distributor, is 7.5o Before top Dead Center (BTDC). Setting the 009 Centrifugal Advance, Single-Vacuum Dual Advance (SVDA) and Vacuum-Only Distributors with a Strobe Be sure to read the instructions that come with the strobe light. The strobe light emits a very bright light which is flashed from a pistol-like instrument when the #1 spark plug fires.
If your timing is so out of whack that the engine will not start, the SVDA and 009 distributors can be timed statically to get you in the ballpark. Timing with a stroboscopic timing light must be done with the engine warm.