Timing confusion, rotor position

[onionion]

Hi all

Firstly, I'm a novice, so please point out any glaringly obvious problems.

I'm running a 198x 1.1 GTL (repainted many times; running on questionable Hungarian papers that say it's a '69; no obvious identification marks, so it's hard to say what year exactly.)

I've recently had problems with the points so I've replaced the ignition cables, rotor and distributor cap. Following the diagram in the Haynes manual, I connected the new cables in the correct order only to find the carb was coughing out clouds of smoke when trying to start it up.

After some Googling, I decided to check & adjust the timing. When I was looking for the notch on the flywheel, I found that it doesn't correspond to the #1 cylinder position, rather the next rotor position in a clockwise direction. I moved all the cables around 90 degrees on the distributor cap, and it surprisingly now it seems to run fine.

So my question is: is there any reason why I can't just leave the timing as it is, set up against the wrong position, or should I adjust it as specified in the manual?


Cheers
Dan

 

[Geoff in the Gully]

No reason at all, if timing is right. Where the '#1 cylinder position' is on the distributor cap cannot be determined just by looking at it from the outside.
It depends in whether the little drive gear underneath the distributor was fitted at the correct angle - it's not uncommon for it to be a sprocket or two out. Not hard to get up to 90 degrees out or even 180 degrees out.

I suspect yours has this issue but unless the distributor is fouling something I'd probably not worry that the position of #1 cylinder lead didn't match some picture or other.

Short answer: If it's running right it's not 'the wrong position'.

Geoff

 

[onionion]

Thanks Geoff, that's good to know.

Now to get stuck into the rest of the little car's problems!

 

[mr-reno-139]

distributor in the wrong position because incorrect drive assembly as you have got on your car won't matter unless you can't get the spark plugs out with out undoing the distributor and rotating i have had that before