Ignition timing setting

[Allen A Crisp]

:D

Having recently purchsed a 1970 Series 2 4.2 E type OTS I am steadily working through the car correcting "inconsistencies" in the set up of the car. An example being the rear shocks being installed upside down!!!

I am currently working on the ignition system and carburation.

The workshop manual is not perfectly clear as to whether the static ignition timing of the engine is at 0 degrees. My failure to understand the manual is probably due to inherent stupidity Mention is made that the timing is 9 degrees BTDC but presume this is at tickover.

Could someone confirm to me the static timing setting

[38E]

The 3.8 is 10 deg BTDC static, that's not at tick-over. Not sure what the 4.2 is. I use a bulb across the points so with the ignition on and turning the engine manually in the forward direction, the bulb should light (ie. points open) at the 10 deg mark on the damper.

Or, you can set the engine at the correct BTDC point and then turn the distributor against the rotation of the rotor until the bulb lights.

You just need to ensure that the damper pointer is set accurately at TDC. On the 3.8, there's also a mark on the flywheel viewable through a cut-out in the left side of the bellhousing which aligns with a line on the block at TDC.