I run my '84 at 5 degrees BTDC.  If you set the idle screw at 1/2-turn COW
from full COW and set the timing at 5 degrees BTDC, you come right onto the
right idle speed.

John
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Wallace" <dwallace51@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 9:07 PM
Subject: Re: setting the timing on my 1984 1.9 vanagon

> Gary,
>
> I've got a '84 GL and I use a timing light and dwell/tach/voltmeter to set
> rpms and the timing per the Bentley Manual. If you don't have all three,
> time to get 'em.
>
> For our 1.9's with digijet, Bentley calls for rpms to be 850 + or - 50 and
> timing to be 5 + or - 1 degree ATDC (After Top Dead Center). Your crank
> pulley closest to the engine will have two grooves in it 5 degrees apart.
> The first one is U-shaped, TDC, the second is V-shaped; That's your timing
> mark. Put a dab of white paint on the timing mark so it'll show up under
> you
> toming light. Unplug the two wires going into your Idle Stabilizer, the
> little green box on the wall to the left of the engine. Plug those two
> wires
> together. Hook up your timing light and loosen the 10mm bolt cinching the
> base of the distributor. Start her up, let her warm up a couple minutes
> and
> set your rpms using your tach set and the Idle Adjustment screw on the
> Throttle Body. Clockwise, faster, counterclockwise, slower. After you've
> got
> the idle speed right, use your timing light on the ATDC mark to line it up
> with the passenger side of the tab with the hole in it sticking out of the
> engine casing. Get the rpms and the timing balanced, stop the engine, put
> the plugs back in the Idle Stabilizer, tighten down the distributor and
> have
> a beer.
>
> I'm no pro but I've had my GL since 1990, put a long block in it and made
> a
> few of cross country trips in Ol' Brown Bess. If I got anything wrong I'm
> the Gurus will starighten us both out.
>
> If you need any other help, I keep an eye out for you on the list.
>
> Dan
>
> I'm pullin' for ya. We're all in this together.
>            -- Red Green
> A thinker sees his own actions as experiments and questions--as attempts
> to
> find out something. Success and failure are for him answers above all.
>            -- Friedrich Nietzsche
>
>
>
>
>>From: gary goldey <clonestar7@YAHOO.COM>
>>Reply-To: gary goldey <clonestar7@YAHOO.COM>
>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>Subject: setting the timing on my 1984    1.9  vanagon
>>Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 09:34:10 -0800
>>
>>I have had no one give me any idea on how to set the timing on my 1984
>>vanagon 1.9L on my first post ....anyone have advice?
>>
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