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Hello all, I have been reading a lot recently on VW timing and I am trying to understand how my engine should be timed and why is it timed that way right now.

 

First of all, the engine run smooth, a bit thirsty but its getting me up the hills as it should. 

I run a 1915cc (I was told... not easy to confirm) with dual 44 webbers, stock 009 centrifugal distributors with points. Fuel wise up here in Montreal I usually run between 91 to 94 octane with no additive. Nothing fancy.

 

With a timing light I can see it being timed at 4 degrees at idle, by reading all kind of threads here and on other forums I think it should be around 7.5 to 8 but ... I am reaching out for experience here. Should I tweak that or not and if yes ... what number should I aim for (at idle and Higher revs) ?

 

Thanks all for the inputs.

 

jc  

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The standard "009" (which may mean anything, since there are about 20 different east Asian clones) is notorious for having a somewhat irregular advance curve. As a result, nobody times them at idle, since that matters a lot less than "total" advance, which really needs to be all in by 3000 rpm (2800 would be better).

The quantity of advance, when it starts, when it finishes, and the shape of the curve are not adjustable. It's a very crude way to do something that really matters. 

Everybody bags on Webers, but they are an order of magnitude more sophisticated than the truly awful ignition almost everybody runs. It's said that 95% of all fuel problems are spark, and I believe that with all my heart. 

Good luck. Forewarned is forearmed.

Last edited by Stan Galat

Stan is on point - Trying to set the idle advance on a centrifugal distributor is fruitless.

Have someone sit in the driver's seat and hold the engine speed at 2,800 - 3,000 rpm and THEN set your distributor advance to 30° max advance.   That's it.   No, the advance curve on the 009 isn't terrific (the 010 is somewhat better) but it's OK for most driving if you're not fussy.

Have fun with it!

The 009 advance is supposedly all in (max advance of 28-32 degrees) by 2500-2600 rpms.  So if you time at 2000 rpm it probably hasn't fully advanced. but it surely will be by 3k!  Suspect you could change the internal  weights/springs to lighter or heavier to alter the max in RPMs.  The 009 is just an inexpensive, imprecise distributor most recommend the 0010.

Couple good articles -

http://eswebs.com/site/blog/vo...9-distributor-tuning

http://www.vw-resource.com/009_history.html

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