[200q20v] Distributor timing

[Derek Pulvino]

Chris,

Have you had the chance to use the tool yet?  If so, how did the rotor line up with the distributor tdc tick mark.  If it just needs to be set to TDC, I'm thinking I can manage without the tool, but otherwise might require a more sophisticated approach.  Appreciate the link for a tool source, but just don't want to wait another week for the tool before I can put the car back together.  

Also, thanks for your input on your site contents, had actuall just found that info last week, and spent some time reading just the section you were talking about, just wasn't sure if the dist/coil delivered a discrete charge for each cylinder.

Also, enjoy your new found friend, who I hear is going by the name of Quinn; newborns can really being a blessing.

thanks
Derek

<<< <C1J1Miller at aol.com>  1/25  6:40p >>>
I've got details on how the distributor / FTCU and other systems work on my 
page:

http://members.aol.com/c1j1miller/

I've also got the dist. rotor location tool; pretty cheap, from 
www.zelenda.com
Chris

In a message dated 1/25/01 9:43:22 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
DPulvino at agraus.com writes:

> 
>  Hey all, 
>  
>  thanks for the input so far, but still don't think I have enough info to 
> install the dist. and have high level of certainty that it's "dead nuts on" 
> where it is specked to be.  I will try to get ahold of Ned Ritchie, in 
fact, 
> I'm going to be in Olympia today, and maybe I can just pop my head in.  As 
> far as the special tool, I think I figured that one out.  When you put the 
> new dist. the seat theres quite a bit of resistance due to the o-ring on 
the 
> dist. periphery, so you can only push it in so far.  So my guess is that as 
> the dist. is forced the rest of the way in with the bolt on the hold down 
> clamp, the rotor will have a tendency to move relative to the dist body as 
> the gears mesh further.  I'm thinking the tool is used to keep the correct 
> reference/timing point on the distributor as it is forced further into the 
> engine head.  If that's the case, then I guess I could just turn everything 
> back to reference, assuming there's not too much frictive force once the 
dist.
>  is in pl!
>  ace.
>  
>  Another question, anybody know how the timing is advanced and retarded on 
> this ignition setup; there's obviously no mechanical means for that.  Does 
> the coil have enough control so that it can send the spark from variable 
> locations on the rotor, to the cap?  That's the only thing I can think of, 
> but then the advance and retard would be limited by the length of the blade 
> on the rotor (or how many degrees the rotor blade length corresponds to).  
> This question's not really essential, but helpful for understanding the 
> system.
>  
>  Derek