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Tue May 08, 2012 5:35 am

Hi,
I have recently bought a 1968 beetle. I have been trying to adjust the timing and am not sure if the distributor that is currently installed is of the correct model. The model is 111-905-205M. If i set the timing to 10BTDC, will this be correct? How do i know if i have set the timing correctly?

Thankyou in advance

Tue May 08, 2012 6:13 am

On my stock 68 same distributor as you have, I use a timing light and set mine to about 30 to 32 degrees full advance at 2800 to 3000 rpm.

Tue May 08, 2012 6:43 am

Does anyone know what i shouldset it to for static timing?

Tue May 08, 2012 3:42 pm

That is an old 40 HP distributor. I am not sure if the vacuum signature is the same as I don't know what carb you are running there down under.

Bus & Pickup 1964-1965 * 1500

Distributor: VW 111-905-205L or M, Bosch ZV/JU4R3 (0231 147 002) > 111-905-205N or 113-905-205J, (Both VW Numbers are: 0231 137 005) > 315-905-205B, 0231 137 031
Can Use: VW 113-905-205A, Bosch ZV/PAU 4R2, 4R5 (0231 139 002), 113-905-205B, 0231 139 006, 311-905-205, ZV/PAU 4R4, 4R6 (0231 139 005)
Points: 01 009
Condensor: 02 007
Rotor: 04 006
Cap: 03 001
Coil: 00 001 (Blue Coil: 00 016)
Vacuum Can: 07 016 (NLA)
Ignition Wires: 09 001
Spark Plug: W8AC
Timing Set At:: 10deg BTDC Static or @ 800-950rpm w/strobe w/vacuum hose disconnected and plugged
Advance/Retard Range: Vacuum Advance Only: 5-11deg @ 1.3 In. Hg, 23-28deg @ 3.5 In. Hg

Tue May 08, 2012 11:16 pm

So considering i have a 1968 1500 beetle, what should i time it to?(static)
Should I time it to 10BTDC or 7.5BTDC?

Thanks

Tue May 08, 2012 11:26 pm

The answer was already mentioned above - the maximum advance you want to see is about 32 degrees. I'd rev it up high and check and see what you got with a timing light. Then shut it down and see what it's like statically. My guess is you'll need to set it to around 10BTDC statically.

That is, if you really had a VW part number that starts with 111. The original distributor for USA 4-speed models in 1968 were the 113905205M, which has much more advance than the 111-M units.

If it is a 111/M -static timing should be 7.5BTC. A 113/M at 0TDC.

Tue May 08, 2012 11:29 pm

so for my distributor which is a 111 model, should i set it to 7.5BTDC or 10BTDC? You mentioned both.

Tue May 08, 2012 11:31 pm

Try 7.5 statically, and when you can, get yourself a timing light and verify the total advance. (I didn't mention 10BTC, I mentioned 0TDC, or straight up... the 113/M and 113/T distributors give 32 degrees of advance so you need to statically set them to straight up TDC.)
-Andy

Tue May 08, 2012 11:53 pm

Could someone explain why i would time to &.5BTDC and not 10BTDC?
10 is recomended in distributor specs but people keep telling me 7.5.

Wed May 09, 2012 12:03 am

Well, as I said, you would be better best to verify the TOTAL advance of the distriutor and go from there. You don't really want it over 32 degrees. To do that you'll need a timing light with a degree wheel on it, or a basic timing light and making a 32 degree mark on the pulley if it's not an aftermarket degree pulley.

Rev it up high and use the timing light until it "pegs out" and see where it's at.

The 111/M is supposed to give around 25 degrees advance. If that's so, 25 plus 7.5 is 32.5. That's what you need to verify.

-Andy

Thu May 10, 2012 8:09 am

Can anyone else provide me with some advice? I would like to get multiple opinions.

Thu May 10, 2012 9:04 am

Another option would be to get the more correct distributor for your 30 Series carb, a 113 905 205M and time it...

Beetle 1968 * 1500 Man Trans

Distributor: VW 113-905-205M, Bosch 0231 137 021
Can Use: VW 113-905-205T, Bosch 0231 137 035 or 036
Replacement: VW 111-905-205AA, Bosch 0231 137 039
Timing Set At:: 0deg TDC Static or @800-950rpm w/strobe w/vacuum hose disconnected and plugged
Advance/Retard Range: Vacuum (Advance Only): 17-19deg @ 1.3 In. Hg, 32-35deg @ 3.2 In. Hg

Thu May 10, 2012 9:13 am

If you are insistent you have a 111-905-205M distributor you want to set your timing to match the distributor and not the model year of your engine.

I have to ask, do you have the original carb and engine installed? The original '68 carb was a 30Pict2. It matters because the vacuum signal to the distributor may be different.

Your 111/M was original for a Type 3 Early 1965 * 1500N
Distributor: VW 111-905-205M, Bosch ZV/JU 4R3 (0231 147 002)
Timing Set At:: 10deg BTDC Static or @ 800-950rpm w/strobe w/vacuum hose disconnected and plugged
Advance/Retard Range: Vacuum Advance Only: 5-11deg @ 1.3 In. Hg, 23-28deg @ 3.5 In. Hg

The 113/M that came with the original '68 engine/carb had these specs:
Beetle 1968 * 1500 Man Trans
Distributor: VW 113-905-205M, Bosch 0231 137 021
Timing Set At:: 0deg TDC Static or @800-950rpm w/strobe w/vacuum hose disconnected and plugged
Advance/Retard Range: Vacuum (Advance Only): 17-19deg @ 1.3 In. Hg, 32-35deg @ 3.2 In. Hg

Look at the sections I highlighted in blue. You will see the vacuum advances at a different rate for the same vacuum level. You can see you 111/M distributor will not advance as much for the same amount of vacuum. This explains why the 111/M had a greater initial timing to make up for the lack of advance from vacuum. You can also see the max timing (initial + vacuum) will be greater with the 111/M vs the 113/M. This jives with Andy's suggestion to start with 7.5 BTDC idle timing. It reduces the total timing and brings it closer to the 35 BTDC that the '68 engine would expect.

Thu May 10, 2012 11:46 am

If you are going to time it with a strobe timing light to 30-35 degrees BTDC maximum anyway, initial static setting is simply not that important. 0-10 will allow the engine to start and run. The reason for 0 (TDC) on the '68 was emissions, which was only measured at idle back then.