[alfa] Re: Adjusting timing on an 86 Spider

["skippatnode" <skippatnode@xxxxxxx>]

Kevin,
    The timing on that 86 is set by the ECU using info from the pickup on the
flywheel.
    The distributor is only a rotary switch.  All you can do is make sure the
spark plug wires line up with the rotor button at the correct firing
positions.  You can either move the wires in the cap or rotate the housing or
both.  (It sounds like this is what you ended up doing)
Skip Patnode
67 Duetto
Norfolk, Va


Date: Fri, 02 Apr 2004 21:21:52 -0500
From: Kevin Redden <kredden@domain.elided>
Subject: [alfa] Adjusting timing on an 86 Spider

All,

I had the oil pump in my 86 spider out recently and must have turned the
distributor a bit and didn't notice until everything was all buttoned up
and it didn't start.  Not wanting to drop the oil pan again (and my
fresh batch of Mobil-1) I took the distributor out and rotated rotor it
to the mark on the distributor after getting the engine to approximate
TDC using the screwdriver method (will us the full stop method mentioned
a while back on the list to get a more accurate set later).  After doing
this I saw that the distributor was about 45 degrees off so I double
nutted the annoying shear bold on the pinch bracket so I could turn it.
Reinstalled it and was able to start the engine again.  It seems to run
pretty smoothly.

After the long winded prelude my question is this: How does one set the
timing on an 86 Spider?  The shop manual mentions that it should be 11
+-1 degrees BTDC at 950 +-50 RPMs and also says to not turn the
distributor or face serious consequences.  Being that I did rather gross
adjustments just to get it running again by violating the warning I
wanted to verify that I'm within spec but if I'm not how do I adjust
it?  I searched the digest archives in vain, saw a couple similar
questions to mine but no responses on list.

Thanks,
Kevin
86 Spider
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