TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:26 pm

ok guys and gals, i am a newbie to this forum, but have been into VW's for a long time now, i have built a number of motors and a few sandrails and need some help on some timing.

I have recently built a 2054 small stroker for my 4 seater rail, i just got the engine running and broke in and have begun to do some fine tuning. the first thing i want you to know is that i had the timing 180 degrees out, so i contacted a close friend and VW guru of sorts and he told me that i could remove the wires and relocate to solve that problem...i did and it worked great. Well i put the timing light on it today and i was majorly retarded, as soon as i began to set the timing towards the 32 degree mark, the engine idle went sky high. i have a power pulley installed, and with the 180 out setback, i was wondering if there is a different timing set i should be acheiving?? or if anyone has any input as to why this is happening i would love to hear it.

on a side note, i am running EMPI 40 hpmx's and the idles set screws have been turned all the way in at this point and the idle is still sky high

Fri Mar 19, 2010 9:23 pm

I'm assuming you were going for 32* at rpm, not at idle right? Rev the motor until advance hits the top of the curve (3,000 rpm ish I think depending upon your distributor), set to 32, and allow to return to idle. If Idle is still High, I would suggest looking for a vacuum leak. You can spray water around the intake to head gaset, and around the base of the carbs. If Idle drops, you've found a leak.

Good luck!

Sat Mar 20, 2010 5:46 am

you are correct, i am talking about total advance, which is with the motor up to 3000 rpms or so, i will check for vacuum leaks, though i used all new gaskets, i am not certain that i will find any

Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:43 pm

Have you looked down the bores of your carbs with engine at idle? If your floats are set too high they will dribble fuel through the fuel pump nozzles, result is high idle, ask me how I know this.