KA timing question

[arcadiabc]

Hello all,

I am trying to set the right timing for my stock KA. I know everything there is to know on how to set stock timing from reading many post found in the searches I done. Yet there is only one problem that I found while reading all of these post. Many people talk about setting timing to 20 degrees, or 15 degrees etc. My question is where or how can I get these numbers. I have a snap on timing light; do I get these numbers from the timing light? Since I have not found much info, it leads me to believe one would eye ball it base on the position of the latches relative to the pointer.

Any one? thanks all in advanced

[madbouncy]

Each tick is a 5 degree increment, the biggest tick is 0 degrees. The last tick is 20 degrees and to advance it further you have to eyeball it. Stock is 20 degrees for a de.

To set your timing...

First warm up your engine, then after it's at normal idle go ahead and turn it off.

Disconnect your Throttle Position Sensor (tps) and hook up your timing light as you need to (mine has a clip for + and - and then I pull the #1 wire off the distributor and put a clip on the distributor where the #1 pluged in.)

Now loosen your distributor, there's two bolts. One on the top and then one a litle bit further if you go around it clockwise.

Use a rachet and a 27mm socket to move the engine crank by hand so that the prointer you see above the crank pulley is aligned with the biggest tick, should be the second one from the top.

Start up your engine and give it a few seconds to settle to normal idle. It should idle at 700 rpms, if not adjust it so it idles at 700.

Now point the timing light at the crank pulley and see which tick the prointer is pointing at. The biggest tick that you originalaly set it at is 0 degrees and the one above it is -5. There are 4 below it that also go in 5 degree increments.

Advance and retard the timing as necassry, move the distributor counter-clockwise to retard and clockwise to advance. I usually just use the end of a rachet and tap the distributor where the top bolt goes in.

When it's set tighten the distributor bolts and make sure ti didn't change the timing when you tightened them.

Make sure to remember to plug your TPS back in.

[180fan]

Have the motor fully warmed up, with the TPS sensor unplugged, and the RPM adjusted to about 800rpm for an auto and about 700-750 for a manual. Hook up the timing light to ignition wire 1 (the one closest to the front of the car). Point the timing light down at the crank pulley, you should see a little pointed thing coming out of the front cover. That's one of the markers. You'll now notice that there are 5 cuts into your crank pulley. The left most one (if you're looking at it from the front of the car) is -5 degrees. The next mark is 0, +5, +10, +15, and +20. The +15 is the timing you're looking for if you've a SOHC (89-90) and the +20 if you've a DOHC motor. You adjust where the timing is by rotating the distributor around after loosening the two bolts that hold it in place. Tighten the distributor down once you've adjusted it to the timing you're looking for.

[arcadiabc]

[QUOTE=1 You'll now notice that there are 5 cuts into your crank pulley. The left most one (if you're looking at it from the front of the car) is -5 degrees. The next mark is 0, +5, +10, +15, and +20. The +15 is the timing you're looking for if you've a SOHC (89-90) and the +20 if you've a DOHC motor. [/QUOTE]

Ok I am a little confused in that part. So if you have -5 0 +5 +10 +15 +20 that makes 6 cuts not 5. Can you clarify on that please?

BTW thank you both for your responses.

[arcadiabc]

Never mind guys, I went down to my car and took a look. There is 6 marks. Thanks