Tony, I have my '84 timed about the same point as your '85.  Problem I am
having is that I cannot get the idle just where I want it.  I put a new
auxiliary air regulator in yesterday along with some new vacuum tubing.  I
have the idle screw backed out one full turn from full CW.  If I run only
1/2 turn out, engine wants to stall about a minute or so after I start it
up.  Digital idle stabilizer tries to keep up idle speed, but it cant; and
exhaust smells very rich.  Right now with one turn out, idle after initial
start up is marginal.  However, once van is fully warmed up, it wants to
idle in the 1000-1200 rpm range.

Any suggestions on next steps would be appreciated.

John Lauterbach
Macon, GA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Smola, Tony" <TSmola@TRIBUNE.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2001 1:49 AM
Subject: Re: Timing Question

> You just have to raise the rpms to around 3000 and then take your timing
> light and using the advance knob, turn the dial on the gun until the
shallow
> groove on the pulley lines up with the case halves.  once you line the
mark
> up, you read what the dial on the timing light indicates.....that's it,
but
> you need to have a timing light with advance capabilities to set the
timing
> by total advance.
>
> T
>
> ps:  the timing I am suggesting is to try to help those with the 1.9 L WBX
> motor whose timing is set at 5 degrees AFTER top dead center.....I would
> like to see them advance it to TDC or better yet 6 degrees BTDC with a
total
> advance of 42 degrees.....2.1's are set at 6 BTDC by the manual...you
could
> probably cheat a few degrees toward the advance....8-degrees maybe?
>
> Malibu Tony....85 westy 1.9L   6 degrees BTDC......42 degrees total
advance
> vacuum lines connected
> 1978 911SC targa 3.0L.......would kill you in no time if you had it's
> powerplant in a van
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Keller [mailto:kelphoto@islandnet.com]
> Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 10:36 PM
> To: Smola, Tony
> Subject: Timing Question
>
>
> Hi Tony,
>
> I just read your signature line again about total timing.  I'm curious
> about how to check or verify total timing.  I would like to A, check
> mine as the Bentley say only 5 BTDC, and 35 +- 5 total. And B, suggest
> this to the list, as I suspect that more than one LOW POWER, van is
> suffering from a malfunction advance, be it vacuum or otherwise. Let's
> fix em!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Mark Keller