Chad,

Bentley says 5 degrees BeforeTopDeadCenter and VW provided a convenient v-notch in the pulley for this.  There is also a half round notch in the middle lip for TopDeadCenter -- as you face the engine from the back it is a little finger width to the right of the BTDC mark.  Some folks have advocated going to 5 or 6 degrees AfterTopDeadCenter.  This would be about a little finger width to the right of the TDC mark.  To do this you have to monkey with the idle speed screw.  I tried this with my '85 automatic this weekend and it didn't work out all that well.  The engine idled nicely but died as soon as I slipped it in gear.  I changed the timing back to TDC (readjusting the idle accordingly) and it is much more drivable.  Runs smooth, power is good and the hesitation is almost gone.

I do need to add a caveat that I have a fairly rotten AFM and throttle position switch.  The AFM is very clean and I've shifted the board as far as it will go but when the multimeter should be reading a smooth progression the needle is all over the dial.  I'll try retiming again when I have the new AFM and TPS installed.

Chuck
'85 Wolfsburg Westy -- 'Roland the Road Buffalo'

In a message dated Mon, 7 May 2001 12:04:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Chad G <groch@worldchat.com> writes:

<< all this discussion about timing........I feel like my van could be running
better (more power etc). I'm taking it to the mechanic today..........where
should I tell him to set timing at?
thanks,
Chad 85GL
 >>