[Bo Mows]

Timing question

I have a few questions about timing. I took over rebuilding a '69 GT after my father in law passed. The engine is a '71 1.9 and was rebuilt but not timed or rockers adjusted yet. Dist is in. and The engine is all but ready to start. But i am trying to set the rocker arms and by the book it says that the rotor should be between 4 and 5 o'clock at TDC. Well, if #1 cyl is closest to the timing chain then the rotor is between 1 and 2 o'clock. Am i wrong about #1 cyl or is the dist. in wrong?

 

[jlthunder]

I checked this against an engine which has not been torn apart. When the rotor on the distributer is pointing to the notch at approx 4-5 o'clock, it is firing on the #1 Cylinder(the one closest to the radiator). The ball and pointer will also align at the timing mark on the flywheel. HTH.

Jeff

 

[bear]

BoMows, with the firing order of 1-3-4-2, the distributor and cam turning 1/2 speed of the crankshaft, cylinders 1 and 4 will be at TDC at the same time and the pointer/ball will be aligned. It seems that maybe the dissy is installed incorrectly, if everything else is correct. A quick and dirty check is to align the pointer/ball and see which cylinder the rotor is contacting in the dissy cap. If not 1 or 4 then for sure the dissy is installed wrong. HTH.

 

[Bo Mows]

Thanks for all the advise. I am going to double check everything suggested tonight and i bet you and Thunder are right, the dizzy is 1/4 turn off. Updates will follow.

Bo

 

[Bo Mows]

Also if i am getting this right, the pointer/ball is on the flywheel and the tranny is still connected so i can't check that unless something is off bad enough to pull it.

Bo

 

[bear]

The pointer is just like a fat needle centered in a hole in the block where the bellhousing is bolted, down behind the exhaust manifold and the ball is imbedded in the flywheel. It's hard to see but not impossible to find. You just spin the crank until you can align the ball with the pointer and that's gonna put 1 or 4 on TDC. You don't have to disassemble anything thing to see them. Hope that clears it up for you. I can scan a pic out of my Clymer's for you if you want.

 

[Bo Mows]

A picture would be great. I feel like i'm getting very well educated on a car i only saw a few times as a teenager. I'm hooked and can't wait to drive this machine! "Baz" was right the very first time i post here. I GOT OPELITIS!!

 

[oldopelguy]

ask, and you shall...

Timing mark photos:
-First, the block itself, well half a block, so you can see what we're talking about.
-Second, what you're looking for on the flywheel to be lined up with the pointer in the block.
-Third, where it all is on an assembled motor.

 

[Bo Mows]

Pictures are worth a 1000 words. I appreciate you tearing down and putting your motor back together to get those pic's for me. LOL

I got lots to do tonight i see.

I have been a member of a few forums about other things (I'm a big scanner radio and Dodge buff), but i have never had the help and overwhelming response to my (dumb to you seasoned Opel guy's) questions as i have here. If, or mostly when i get to drive this thing, I hope to get to some shows and put some faces with the threads.

Thanks again

Bo

 

[bear]

Well, Stephen beat me to it, but as you can see it's behind and below the exhaust manifold right behind the oil pressure transmitter. Easy to see with the motor out, but a bit testy with it installed.

 

[benncojr]

Well, Stephen beat me to it, but as you can see it's behind and below the exhaust manifold right behind the oil pressure transmitter. Easy to see with the motor out, but a bit testy with it installed.

To see it you need a mirror, a flash light and third buddy. Here is how it goes

1 person to start the car and keep it running
1 person to adjust the distributor
1 person to see the timing mark on the back of the flywheel

Now you can do it with 2 folks. 1 to start the car and keep it running and the other to adjust the distributor. The person who does the adjusting of the distributor has to do it by ear and feel of the engine ( a little tricky but a can do situation).

I know I have done it.

 

[bear]

Well that's pretty close Rick, but actually one person can do it. You hook up the timing lite, start the engine and get it to idle continuously, then, turn the dissy, run to the other side of the car, check the timing, run back to the dissy, turn it, run back, check the timing, run back, turn the dissy, run back, check the timing, run back, tighten the dissy, run back, double check to see that the timing didn't change when you tightened the dissy. If it did, go back to square one. When you've got it all dialed in, run in the house and get some Aloe Vera cream to apply to the burned skin on your arm. Been There, Done That, more than once.

 

[Bo Mows]

HAHAHA Great comeback Rick.

Update on the timing. Last night, i aligned the needle/ball and found the dizzy was 1/4 turn off. I removed it, turned it and reinstalled pointing at #4. Checked all 4 cyl's and it pointed perfect on compression stroke. I pre lubed it as the dizzy was out, oil flowed almost instantly. Pulled fuel pump and had just a little gas in it. Cleaned it out and now going to get a battery (hope there are no shorts in wiring) and try "Otis the Opel" (was Ollie, but it liked Otis better) on his own. Gonna flush the oil and water (has not had water through motor yet) from the heater core and radiator. Lots of rig wiring under the hood I think to get the car to where it's at now. Appears to have sat a while before being moved to his garage. I think i'll move my updates to General Discussions unless the timing thing comes back to haunt me.

Again i really appriciate all the help.

Bo

 

[ZmokE]

Well...the distributor in the GT i own is totally wrong installed by the former owner.
If i read the servicemanual i just downloaded from this site it says that the notch should be pointing about 4 o'clock. The notch in the housing should be in one line with the notch in the rotor.
The picture i added shows how the distibutor is set when the needle in the flywheel house is set to the ball in the flywheel itself.
With other words, the picture show that it's now firing cilincer no.1.
I hope when i install it at the right way the engine will run smoother.
Keep you informed.
Rini.

 

[hrcollinsjr]

Even though the distributor was put in wrong, if the engine was timed correctly there will be no difference in how your engine runs. If your timing advance mechanism isn't moving freely if will make it easier to disassemble the mechanism to clean it up and lube it. You might even get away with a simple lubing and turning the shaft back and forth.

Some Opel people are a little anal about the distributor being installed correctly. That would include me. :yup:

Harold

 

[ZmokE]

I sucked the hose thats connected to the vacuummechanism...it works..it moves freely.
The engine runs, but i think it can run better. If i set the timing by a timing light it runs very unsmooth.
If i do it by ear, its better, but i just can't stand it that it runs better by ear, than by the official way... :no:

 

[hrcollinsjr]

The vacuum advance is working, now check the mechanical. Turn the rotor button gently. It should move a LITTLE and return to it's original position when released. If you twist too hard on the rotor you can break it. There should only be light spring resistance to turning it. If it works properly I would still lightly oil the fiber pad in the end of the distributor shaft under the rotor.

HTH,
Harold

 

[RallyBob]

Number 1 cylinder is towards the front of the car.

 

[Gigsworth]

thank, and the points should be set to .018 right?

 

[deaner]

The search feature on this site is your best friend. I found this in .018 seconds.

http://opelgt.com/tech/