Mike Romain

Bill Lahr wrote:
>
> Milke,
<snip>
>
> The rotor is wide on
> the Oddfire distributor and mine will either center on #1 at TDC on the
> compression stroke or point between #1 and #6.

I thought about what you were saying and I have always figured the
centerline of the rotor would be the point that is the optimum spark
point so have used the rotor's centerline for setting them up by eye.

If it is past, then your timing is 'advanced' before top dead center.

What really counts is when the spark is generated. I outlined that test
in the other post.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Mike Romain

Bill Lahr wrote:
>
> Milke,
<snip>
>
> The rotor is wide on
> the Oddfire distributor and mine will either center on #1 at TDC on the
> compression stroke or point between #1 and #6.

I thought about what you were saying and I have always figured the
centerline of the rotor would be the point that is the optimum spark
point so have used the rotor's centerline for setting them up by eye.

If it is past, then your timing is 'advanced' before top dead center.

What really counts is when the spark is generated. I outlined that test
in the other post.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Mike Romain

Bill Lahr wrote:
>
> Milke,
<snip>
>
> The rotor is wide on
> the Oddfire distributor and mine will either center on #1 at TDC on the
> compression stroke or point between #1 and #6.

I thought about what you were saying and I have always figured the
centerline of the rotor would be the point that is the optimum spark
point so have used the rotor's centerline for setting them up by eye.

If it is past, then your timing is 'advanced' before top dead center.

What really counts is when the spark is generated. I outlined that test
in the other post.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

L.W.(Bill) Hughes III

Hi Bill,
There's a great possibility if it's not been started after the
chain was replace that the cam sprocket is reversed, as it's one for V6
and the other for V8. If correct the intake will begin to open 24
degrees before top dead center.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Bill Lahr wrote:
>
> I'm trying to fire up a '61 CJ5 that I am almost finished restoring.
> Engine is from a '64 Buick Special, suspect it is the 198ci because it
> has a Rochester Monojet rather than the 2bbl found on the 225. No
> matter, same block, etc. I have compression, I have manifold vacuum,
> rebuilt the carb, have fuel, rebuilt the distributor (vacuum advance had
> a hole in it) and have spark, but it won't start. The previous owner had
> installed a new timing chain after he parked it, but never drove it, and
> I assume he did that correctly or it would have destroyed a valve in
> cranking it over. But he apparently had to pull the distributor. It is
> driven by a hypoid gear that causes the rotor to twist as you remove it,
> so I suspect he may not have inserted it correctly. At TDC, the rotor
> was pointing midway between #1 and #6.
>
> There is a small notch on the side of the distributor housing that marks
> the #1 position. What I need is for someone with an Oddfire engine to
> set it to TDC and tell me where the centerline of the contact strip on
> top of the rotor is pointing. (The contact is wide at the end, but
> please ignore that.) Right now, mine points directly at the notch, but I
> am not sure if this is correct. I can't find any manuals that cover an
> engine this old. I need to set the ignition timing before I can finish
> troubleshooting it.
>
> Thanks.
> --
>
> Bill Lahr
> mr.bill@pcmagic.net

L.W.(Bill) Hughes III

Hi Bill,
There's a great possibility if it's not been started after the
chain was replace that the cam sprocket is reversed, as it's one for V6
and the other for V8. If correct the intake will begin to open 24
degrees before top dead center.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Bill Lahr wrote:
>
> I'm trying to fire up a '61 CJ5 that I am almost finished restoring.
> Engine is from a '64 Buick Special, suspect it is the 198ci because it
> has a Rochester Monojet rather than the 2bbl found on the 225. No
> matter, same block, etc. I have compression, I have manifold vacuum,
> rebuilt the carb, have fuel, rebuilt the distributor (vacuum advance had
> a hole in it) and have spark, but it won't start. The previous owner had
> installed a new timing chain after he parked it, but never drove it, and
> I assume he did that correctly or it would have destroyed a valve in
> cranking it over. But he apparently had to pull the distributor. It is
> driven by a hypoid gear that causes the rotor to twist as you remove it,
> so I suspect he may not have inserted it correctly. At TDC, the rotor
> was pointing midway between #1 and #6.
>
> There is a small notch on the side of the distributor housing that marks
> the #1 position. What I need is for someone with an Oddfire engine to
> set it to TDC and tell me where the centerline of the contact strip on
> top of the rotor is pointing. (The contact is wide at the end, but
> please ignore that.) Right now, mine points directly at the notch, but I
> am not sure if this is correct. I can't find any manuals that cover an
> engine this old. I need to set the ignition timing before I can finish
> troubleshooting it.
>
> Thanks.
> --
>
> Bill Lahr
> mr.bill@pcmagic.net

L.W.(Bill) Hughes III

Hi Bill,
There's a great possibility if it's not been started after the
chain was replace that the cam sprocket is reversed, as it's one for V6
and the other for V8. If correct the intake will begin to open 24
degrees before top dead center.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Bill Lahr wrote:
>
> I'm trying to fire up a '61 CJ5 that I am almost finished restoring.
> Engine is from a '64 Buick Special, suspect it is the 198ci because it
> has a Rochester Monojet rather than the 2bbl found on the 225. No
> matter, same block, etc. I have compression, I have manifold vacuum,
> rebuilt the carb, have fuel, rebuilt the distributor (vacuum advance had
> a hole in it) and have spark, but it won't start. The previous owner had
> installed a new timing chain after he parked it, but never drove it, and
> I assume he did that correctly or it would have destroyed a valve in
> cranking it over. But he apparently had to pull the distributor. It is
> driven by a hypoid gear that causes the rotor to twist as you remove it,
> so I suspect he may not have inserted it correctly. At TDC, the rotor
> was pointing midway between #1 and #6.
>
> There is a small notch on the side of the distributor housing that marks
> the #1 position. What I need is for someone with an Oddfire engine to
> set it to TDC and tell me where the centerline of the contact strip on
> top of the rotor is pointing. (The contact is wide at the end, but
> please ignore that.) Right now, mine points directly at the notch, but I
> am not sure if this is correct. I can't find any manuals that cover an
> engine this old. I need to set the ignition timing before I can finish
> troubleshooting it.
>
> Thanks.
> --
>
> Bill Lahr
> mr.bill@pcmagic.net

bowgus

Have that engine with Rochester 4bbl in the boat ,,, service bulletin
says:

1. Rotate engine in normal direction of rotation until the timing mark
on the crankshaft balancer lines up with "0" (TDC) on timing tab and
engine is in #1 firing position.
2. Look closely at the cam in the distributor. Three lobes have sharper
profile than the other three (sharp, round, sharp, round, ... 1 (132
dgrees) 6 (108 degrees) 5 (132 degrees) ... and so on ... )
3. Install the distributor so that when the rotor is aligned with with
the #1 spark plug tower, a rounded lobe is aligned with the rubbing
block of the breaker points.
4. Secure distributor with clamp and check engine timing with timing
light. For what it's worth I set my timing at 8 degrees and use Shell
Silver 89 octane.

bowgus

Have that engine with Rochester 4bbl in the boat ,,, service bulletin
says:

1. Rotate engine in normal direction of rotation until the timing mark
on the crankshaft balancer lines up with "0" (TDC) on timing tab and
engine is in #1 firing position.
2. Look closely at the cam in the distributor. Three lobes have sharper
profile than the other three (sharp, round, sharp, round, ... 1 (132
dgrees) 6 (108 degrees) 5 (132 degrees) ... and so on ... )
3. Install the distributor so that when the rotor is aligned with with
the #1 spark plug tower, a rounded lobe is aligned with the rubbing
block of the breaker points.
4. Secure distributor with clamp and check engine timing with timing
light. For what it's worth I set my timing at 8 degrees and use Shell
Silver 89 octane.

bowgus

Have that engine with Rochester 4bbl in the boat ,,, service bulletin
says:

1. Rotate engine in normal direction of rotation until the timing mark
on the crankshaft balancer lines up with "0" (TDC) on timing tab and
engine is in #1 firing position.
2. Look closely at the cam in the distributor. Three lobes have sharper
profile than the other three (sharp, round, sharp, round, ... 1 (132
dgrees) 6 (108 degrees) 5 (132 degrees) ... and so on ... )
3. Install the distributor so that when the rotor is aligned with with
the #1 spark plug tower, a rounded lobe is aligned with the rubbing
block of the breaker points.
4. Secure distributor with clamp and check engine timing with timing
light. For what it's worth I set my timing at 8 degrees and use Shell
Silver 89 octane.

L.W.(Bill) Hughes III

The relationship between the GM cap lock screws may help:
http://www.----------.com/temp/buickv6fire.jpg
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------

bowgus wrote:
>
> Have that engine with Rochester 4bbl in the boat ,,, service bulletin
> says:
>
> 1. Rotate engine in normal direction of rotation until the timing mark
> on the crankshaft balancer lines up with "0" (TDC) on timing tab and
> engine is in #1 firing position.
> 2. Look closely at the cam in the distributor. Three lobes have sharper
> profile than the other three (sharp, round, sharp, round, ... 1 (132
> dgrees) 6 (108 degrees) 5 (132 degrees) ... and so on ... )
> 3. Install the distributor so that when the rotor is aligned with with
> the #1 spark plug tower, a rounded lobe is aligned with the rubbing
> block of the breaker points.
> 4. Secure distributor with clamp and check engine timing with timing
> light. For what it's worth I set my timing at 8 degrees and use Shell
> Silver 89 octane.