[NoVa-Corvairs] Vair Fair and tech question

[Daniel Goldberg]

Some questions:

1) Won't a overly-tight points gap fry the points?  This isn't the worst thing in the world because my ultimate goal is to replace the points with an electronic ignition, but still: will I cause damage?

2) How do I set the timing to 35 degrees -- without a degreed balancer -- when the little plate just behind the harmonic balancer goes from 0 to 16 (with a hash mark just to the right of the 16)? Some background: I purchased a new timing light from Sears only this past weekend because I'm convinced that my old Heathkit timing light is giving up the ghost.  The Heathkit does have a degreed balancer, but I don't think it's ever worked.  I'll try banging it on the pavement a few times to see what happens.

3) When revving the engine to 4000 RPM as you suggested, should I remove the vacuum advance line?

many thanks,
daniel


> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Curtis L Shimp" <clshimp at juno.com>
> To: novacc-list at corvair.org
> Subject: Re: [NoVa-Corvairs] Vair Fair and tech question
> Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 07:46:24 -0400
> 
> 
> Dan:
> 
> If you are comfortable that the points are set at  .016 " then I suspect
> there is something wrong with the dwell meter or the scale on which it is
> set.
> 
> If you believe the dwell meter is good and there are no problems there,
> then adjust the points until you get the correct dwell.  If by chance you
> end up with the points set too tight the car will run but sometimes it is
> hard to start.
> 
> Regarding the timing on your 140, over 40 years you don't know what has
> been done to the car.  That means some one may have replaced the
> distributor with a non-140 one, changed parts inside, or something inside
> is not working right.  The best way to set your timing is to set it at
> about 34 to 35 deg. at 4,000 rpm then let it go to idle, read the idle
> timing and that becomes your initial timing.  Of course, you need a
> "degreed balancer" (I have one, don't you) or one of the newer digital
> timing lights that measures total advance (ditto).
> 
> Curt
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