>I am stumped, what could make my timing be so far from stock?

Jay
you made the timing so far from stock the question is why does the timing
work best so far form stock
I ask
 what's the rest of the story did you just change the dist ??
backfiring is caused by a bad throttle sitch or some other rich running
condition or
an exhaust leak near the head
I see the timing changed as you describe to compensate for low manifold
vacuum (valves not closing)
did you check to see if the centrifugal advance is working and do the vacuum
advance and retard work
on the new dist

I remain

Bob Donalds
Boston Engine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Brown" <badkarma@TTLC.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 3:11 PM
Subject: Weird ignition timing - '85 Westy

>I recently replaced the distributor on my '85 Westy (stock 1.9L) since my
> old one had a broken connector where the Hall unit connects.  I got the
> van
> started and timed it by ear before reaching for the timing gun.  The van
> will barely run at 5 degrees ATDC (sounds kinda like a sick Harley) and
> won't smooth out and run without stumbling until about 12-15 degrees ATDC.
>
> Thinking something was wrong with my timing gun I took the van for a spin
> and everything seems great at the 14 degrees ATDC setting.  Good
> acceleration, no backfiring on deceleration, running at normal temps at
> highway speed and around town.  I decided to borrow a friends timing gun
> to
> double check things and I get the exact same readings.
>
> I am stumped, what could make my timing be so far from stock?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Jay Brown
> '85 Westfalia
> '72 Riviera
> http://www.geocities.com/vwcamper72