Chasing timing marks

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PaulC
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Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider 2000
Location: Maine

Chasing timing marks

Post by PaulC »

Got the dizzy all sorted out with a new pick up, New vacuum advance, New bearings and seals.
But I can't seem to get the timing correct. If I turn the dizzy to retard the timing towards 10 degrees the engine dies before I get to that point even with the idle speed screw maxed out.
Seems to idle ok but pops thru the carb when you goose the throttle which seems like a timing issue but again the engine dies before the correct point can be reached.
Totally stumped here! :(
PaulC
Patron 2022
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Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 5:04 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider 2000
Location: Maine

Re: Chasing timing marks

Post by PaulC »

Finally got this issue all sorted out.
Turns out it was still dizzy related but with two parts I never replaced because I had already replaced them with new parts - rotor and cap.
Found that the new rotor ( aftermarket from RockAuto) was hitting the #1 and #2 terminals inside the cap (also Rock Auto part) and spreading fine brass filings on the inside.

Here's the cap where you can see the grooves in the terminals
Image
Here's the rotor with a tip that's much narrower than an OEM
Image

Replaced both with the original old ones and all's well - timings right on, idles good, I'm pleased.
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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
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Re: Chasing timing marks

Post by RRoller123 »

Had this same thing once. The caps are sometimes molded with the brass inserts mislocated, so everything is on an eccentric. One would think they would have this mfg problem figured out by now..... :?
'80 FI Spider 2000
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PaulC
Patron 2022
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Posts: 265
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 5:04 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider 2000
Location: Maine

Re: Chasing timing marks

Post by PaulC »

Worn out molds would be the most likely reason for this.
Expensive to machine New ones
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