Setting Timing

[aroostok]

Have been reading a lot in several places about setting the timing for the MGB at 32 degrees @ 4000 rpm with vacuum disconnected. How do you read 32 degrees? Do you use a timing light with a advance knob set at 32 degrees and then line up with TDC, or what. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm not exactly sure about the timing on my recently rebuilt engine.

 

[piman]

Hello Aroostok,

it depends on your timing light. If, as it sounds, you have a light with a control to vary the angle, yes dial in 32 degrees and set to TDC.
The other way, if the timing light doesn't have the advance facility requires marking the damper and using that to set the timing.

Alec

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Have been reading a lot in several places about setting the timing for the MGB at 32 degrees @ 4000 rpm with vacuum disconnected. How do you read 32 degrees? Do you use a timing light with a advance knob set at 32 degrees and then line up with TDC, or what. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm not exactly sure about the timing on my recently rebuilt engine.

Yes on a dial timing light, but I wouldn't do it that way, I would disconnect the vacuum advance line, set it at idle say about 11-12 degrees advance, then reconnect the vacuum line, then check total advance at 3000 rpms, you should be close to 32 if not tweak the idle timing to get to the 32BTDC. Then take a sharpie after you get it where you want and make a reference line with the sharpie marker on the distributor over to clamp plate, that way if you need to remove it in the future, just install to the reference mark, and check, you should be real close, if not dead on.