Hi ya, thanks for your reply, yes turns over, and goes to fire up , unfortunately the distributor is loose and it has had 6v electronic ignition fitted , I am unsure how to set timing and am not a mechanic, the engine is in situ in the van . I’m in the new forest not far fro Bealuie , regards SteveMay I ask some questions before suggesting any help?
1/ Does the engine turn over? By this I mean is the block seized or not?
2/ Is the engine mounted in a car or is it free-standing?
3/ (not directly relevant to the engine...) where in Hampshire are you (and, presumably, the engine)?
Is it possibly a 2141 cc Étendard 671 I4 engine for or from a 1956 Renault Fregate?
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If you don't know how to set the timing I'll give you a method of roughly tuning it. Underneath the distributor is a circular clamp, that secures the position of the distributor once the timing is correctly set and I expect it's this clamp that's somehow become loose in the past. Once you have the engine ticking over s-l-o-w-l-y rotate the distributor one way and then the other; you'll find the speed of the engine will increase. By trial and error (!) you'll arrive at a point where the engine is happy. At this point tighten up the clamp that secures the distributor at this position.
If you need more help, or you cannot make the engine run, I'll suggest an alternative method of fixing the timing.