Tony, I tried to follow the book instructions with my '84 this evening.  I
found it somewhat confusing as to where the marks are.  On the engine side
of the pulley nearest the engine there is a notch like there was on US cars
of 20 years ago.  About 1/2 inch to the passenger's side on the opposite
side of the pulley there is a depression.  Which to use and if it is the
depression and not the notch, where on the depression is the right spot?

I have read that you are suppose to line one of these spots up with the
centerline of the engine for TDC.  If you are heading for 6 degrees BTDC,
what do you line up with what?

I was doing all of the above with both lines to the vacuum advance removed
and blocked off; also, I had the digital idle stabilizer bypassed.  Engine
RPM when I made the final adjustment was about 900.  I think that I have the
timing not advanced enough as I am about 1.5 turns on the idle screw to get
about 900 rpm with everything back together.

Help would be most appreciated.

John Lauterbach
Macon, GA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Smola, Tony" <TSmola@tribune.com>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2001 6:29 PM
Subject: Re: digijet timing

> I just wanted to point out some things
> regarding the message below.
> 1) the stock setting is 5 degrees after top dead center
> 2) full advance according to bentley is around 27-31 degrees.
> 3) However when you advance your timing for performance the settings
become
>    6 degrees BTDC at idle and 42 degrees full advance ( vacuum lines all
> connected)
> 4) your throttle body idle speed screw will be about a half a turn from
> fully screwed in
> 5) I reccomend turning the idle up a little bit ( manual only) to help
> preventing
>    balking following a long decelleration.
> 6) I've had my 85' Westy timed like this for years with no problems  (
137K
> original everything)
> 7) I have had no pinging ever ( using 87 octane  Chevron and Mobil)
> 8) I reccomend changing the timing to zero degrees TDC, and then if you
like
> that go ahead and
>    advance the timing to 6 degrees BTDC ( remember the TDC timing mark is
> the shallow groove-
>    not the v-notch on the 1.9 L water cooled motors.
> 9) I consulted pro mechanics and got the ok before advancing my timing.
> 10) this is only for water cooled, air cooled will have to stay near the
> stock setting, maybe
>     cheat a few degrees of advance, but that is it!
>
> Hope this clears things up
>
> MAlibu Tony 85' Westy 6 degrees BTDC ( for years) 42 degrees full advance
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Cotsford" <Cotsford@aol.com>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, April 30, 2001 7:33 AM
> Subject: Re: Digijet timing
>
>
> > HI all,      On the question of ignition timing I would urge you to use
> > caution when advancing the timing past specs.
> > When the timing is too advanced then "pinking" or "pinging" can occur
> which
> > is detonation too early and it can be damaging to your engine.     It
will
> be
> > most noticeable at low rpm when accelerating.    I am leery of this with
> the
> > poor quality gas we sometimes encounter.
> > On the other side of this, VW probably retarded the ignition to meet
> > emissions specs and so the book timing is too retarded for maximum
power.
> > Try advancing a degree at a time past 5 BTC and check for pinging.
Then
> > back off a degree or two if you encounter this.     When the engine is
> very
> > hot (too hot) this pinging will occur earlier.     In Europe, often 10
> > degrees BTC is used but the gas has a higher octane level.
> > Check the maximum advance too.    This should be about 30 degrees BTC or
> > perhaps a little more (vacuum advance disconnected).   Maybe another
> listee
> > has a more accurate figure for this.
> > As the vehicle spends most of its life at full advance, this is the
figure
> > you want to get right.
> > Steve Cotsford
> >