weird timing problem, please advice

[alfredhamstra]

hi all,
got a weird problem
im fixing a 2l spider block, with 2l head with brandnew 34DMS carb
im having troubles with the timing of the engine...
initial setup: crankshaftpulley points to 0 mark, campulleys (the right way put on, S and A) are pointing to the notches, the distribution is pointing to 4th cilinder, the mark on the distributor is 180 degrees other side.
after turning the engine on, it runs very bad, with the stroboscope (timingthing) I dont see the notch neather at 0 or 10 degrees, no sign of notch at the cranc at all.
so i use the stroboscope to set timing to 10 degrees by moving the distributor
engine runs still very bad, fires trough carb, no power at all...
BUT...
after putting timing to 20 - 25 degrees, degrees, engine runs fine, good power and all....
what can be wrong?
i changed the distributor, bobine, campulleys are right way

any ideas guys??
hope there are some sherlock holmses around there
regards
alfred
netherlands

[So Cal Mark]

have you physically determined tdc rather than just looking at the timing marks?

[alfredhamstra]

yes, did that too, 1st and 4th cilinder was at tdc (screwdriver in sparkhole)

[So Cal Mark]

and your pointer was at zero then? Do you have a vacuum gauge to verify engine vacuum? What are your valve clearances? Are you using a catalytic converter?

[alfredhamstra]

yes. crankpointer was 0. 1 and 4 tdc, campulleys alligned, distr. was at 4th. notch 180 degrees other side.
them timinglight at 10 degrees...

valveclearance in tolerance. is ok

vacuumtest??? how i do that??
i did leaktest. was ok. but compression is only 8 bar. 8.5 when wet...
but low compr. dont have anything to do with it, or does it??

[alfredhamstra]

no cat converter installed...

[BEEK]

is the a pulley on the intake and the s pulley on the exhaust?

[So Cal Mark]

what I asked was if you physically confirmed tdc, not just looked at the pointer

[alfredhamstra]

yes. confirmed tdc on 1 and 4 by screwdriver in sparkhole...

s is indeed on exhaust

[sptcoupe]

What Mark is saying is when you have the pistons at TDC, check the pointers to see that they are aligned properly. Also check your plug wires to be sure they are gong to the right plug from the distributor.

[alfredhamstra]

again yes... basics like this are okay.....
but are 2l and 1.8l cranks the same??
maybe i swapped them...

[So Cal Mark]

no, the crankshafts are quite different since the stroke is longer on a 2L. Did your pistons come to the top of the cylinder?

[alfredhamstra]

ill check it tomorrow...dont know anymore... burt it would explain the low compression.......
let you know tomorrow. i think we found it!
regards
alfred

[joelbert2k]

When they say to point the distributor rotor at #4 what they really mean to say is point it at the contact in the distributor cap that connects to #4. It may not be in line with the actual cylinder.
Joel