Front pulley timing marks

[Warwick (Ozcoupe)]

I've replaced the original distributor with a modified Bosch unit (Holden V8) in order to get a better dizzy and have easier availability and cheaper parts.
I set up the static timing today for the new distributor and discovered something odd.
The book says 6 degrees BTDC, but the marks on the pulley are only to 5 degrees either side of TDC.
Does this mean it isn't a P5B pulley? An extra pulley would have had to have been added when the aircon was fitted before first delivery in 1970, so perhaps that part was changed then too. Does anyone have any clues?

Warwick.

[Phil Nottingham]

The pulley should marked in degrees up 10 deg with a higher 5 degree mark. Standard timing of 6 deg advance is only suitable for 100 octane fuel and it can be retarded a degree a time to run with 95 octane without pinking - mine is at 4 deg advance but another I had would pink at 2

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Mine is marked a Phil has described Warwick but without checking I think it is marked 10 degrees either side of TDC it may be 10 and 5 but certainly 10 before not 5 I would do a static TDC the normal way through No1 plug hole and see where it comes on the pully

I just had a look at the drawing in the V8 suppliment there are 7 marks after showing, the rest are hidden with the fan belt if the drawing can be believed normaly it's accurate it may be there are a few variations that would be novel ;D ;D

[Warwick (Ozcoupe)]

There are definite advantages to being on the other side of the world. I may not be able to attend any club activities, but I can ask a question then go to bed and let the experts supply the answers while I sleep. It's a good system.

Thanks Phil; I ran it on 98 octane on the big trip home at Easter and had been planning on doing the same. I assumed 6 degrees would be a good starting point for 98.

I'll check my Range Rover books. I've got a 1977 parts book that I can compare it with. Maybe it's an early RR pulley. They were all low compression to enable running on crappy fuel. A truly wonderful thing is the V8 in low compression format. An old Range Rover can just about climb a wall at idle speed in high range.

Thanks John; Yes I came to that conclusion myself on the way to the office. Something is definitely awry, and I'm beginning to suspect the timing marks. Looks like I'll be pulling off the rocker cover again tonight. I may as well pull all the plugs out and check them too. I only looked at one and it was a nice clean NGK of the type you and DF suggested so I didn't look at the rest. Perhaps a new set of plug leads wouldn't go astray either.

Thanks,
Warwick.

[Warwick (Ozcoupe)]

It doesn't look like the one in the Range Rover parts book either. The picture shows 10 marks either side too.

Anyway, I've set it for just past the last mark (5 degrees), and it runs well.