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Iowa Mark
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2004
Posts: 1078
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 Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2025 12:55 pm Post subject: Timing issues? |
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My '56 with a stock rebuilt single port 1600, with type 3 carbs and a VJ4 BR8 distributor. I static timed it at the 7.5 degree mark on a stock pulley and fired it up. At about 3000 rpms all I get is maybe 22 degrees total advance. It's running a little hot and the power just doesn't seem to be what even a stock 1600 should be. The plugs look good. I can't seem to find just what a BR8 has in it for advance and I'm trying to decide if it is timing or carb related.
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heimlich 
VWNOS.com
Joined: November 20, 2016
Posts: 7566
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2025 2:47 pm Post subject: Re: Timing issues? |
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The stock advance for your distributor can be as low as 16 degrees total mechanical advance. Add 7.5 to that and you only get 23.5 total advance out of it.
Is the 22 you state with the 7.5 added in? I'd try 10 degrees base timing instead of 7.5 and see how the engine operates.
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wagen19
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2007
Posts: 862
Location: germany
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2025 10:29 pm Post subject: Re: Timing issues? |
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| Iowa Mark wrote: |
My '56 with a stock rebuilt single port 1600, with type 3 carbs and a VJ4 BR8 distributor. I static timed it at the 7.5 degree mark on a stock pulley and fired it up. At about 3000 rpms all I get is maybe 22 degrees total advance. It's running a little hot and the power just doesn't seem to be what even a stock 1600 should be. The plugs look good. I can't seem to find just what a BR8 has in it for advance and I'm trying to decide if it is timing or carb related.
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The VJ 4 BR 8 dizzy was a listed as a official spare part for 24,5 hp split engines and in that case to be set static at 12,5° degrees BTDC instead of 5 ° BTDC with "normal" dizzies (at that kind of engines). Is the split shaft properly easy moving, oiled, lubed? (the 4 BR 8 has a very small range of dynanic advance)
Imo, a original german 009 (eventually painted black) wouldn´t be bad. |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 80364
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 2:41 am Post subject: Re: Timing issues? |
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A VJ4BR8 has only 17* advance built in. You should time it at 30* BTDC @ 3500rpm and then let the idle fall where it may.
30-17=13* advance at idle.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
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wagen19
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2007
Posts: 862
Location: germany
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 3:37 am Post subject: Re: Timing issues? |
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| Glenn wrote: |
A VJ4BR8 has only 17* advance built in. You should time it at 30* BTDC @ 3500rpm and then let the idle fall where it may.
30-17=13* advance at idle. |
Ahh...
that just goes along with the old VW info "12,5°", rounded 13° when idling, (or static). |
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Iowa Mark
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2004
Posts: 1078
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 6:46 am Post subject: Re: Timing issues? |
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| Wow! Thanks for all the responses. I have an 010 on the shelf, but like this whole car, the engine was also an effort in using all the bits and pieces that have been waiting for their moment to go back into service. This distributor came from a donated engine drug from under a bench where it sat since the 60's welcoming mice in thru the large hole in the top of the case. About the only thing that old bus could give back. |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 80364
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 7:01 am Post subject: Re: Timing issues? |
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| Iowa Mark wrote: |
| I have an 010 on the shelf, |
The 010 has 22* advance and you time it the same way.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי |
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wagen19
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2007
Posts: 862
Location: germany
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 3:50 pm Post subject: Re: Timing issues? |
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| Iowa Mark wrote: |
| Wow! Thanks for all the responses. I have an 010 on the shelf, but like this whole car, the engine was also an effort in using all the bits and pieces that have been waiting for their moment to go back into service. This distributor came from a donated engine drug from under a bench where it sat since the 60's welcoming mice in thru the large hole in the top of the case. About the only thing that old bus could give back. |
I like your design of engine!
What kind of heating system and exhaust- muffler system is installed and what air filters? (I build up something similar with original NOS 1500 S pistons...) (suggest to use the very first type of bastard to 61 gen stand without ribs for 90 mm diam. gen.), (gen evtl. early 912), (and a iron dome fuel pump with screwed in line).
But the original type 3 SP manifolds I have are much shorter and also the type 3 carb linkage is different. (mod 65 1500 S carbs) Imo, your engine looks more like "optical OKRASA based" and rather 34 PCI carbs.
Better pics please, thanks and good luck to USA! (especially to Cedar Rapids Iowa) |
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Iowa Mark
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2004
Posts: 1078
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: Timing issues? |
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About the carbs and manifolds: I used the stock single port manifolds. Cut the mounting flange to the head and the long side of the runner, together with the carb mounting flange. You will need to ruin two of these often discarded parts. Weld the parts together along with a balance tube. I chopped off the entire choke assembly from the PDSIT's and plugged the choke shaft holes. The air cleaner are cheap paper EMPI's with some cut down stainless steel silverwear buckets from a food equipment supplier.
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