1700 t4 will not run with valves "properly adusted"

[Tbob]

Really doesn't matter that the drive gear is in the "wrong" place. What does matter is that the rotor transfers the spark to the distributor cap and ultimately the spark plugs at the right time. So if you clocked the distributor drive gear to give you more clearance for a non stock vacuum can, as long as it can be timed correctly, you are good. And if your timing light shows spark on number one at 8 degrees before TDC, I think it's ok.
However, since number one has spark but isn't running, this is a puzzle. You are setting your valves at around .006 ? I bet you are, but I just had to ask, as I can't think of anything else that would do what you are experiencing except a camshaft that isn't right, either miss timed or mis manufactured. Or, here's a Longshot, are we sure that pertronex is working properly? I have had a lot of trouble with aftermarket electronics. If you don't have a points distributor to try, I may have a spare 009 distributor I think I can put my hands on. It's all wrong advance curve wise, but if it runs on all 4 with a properly timed 009, then it isn't the camshaft. That's the only other thing I can think of. Like I said, its a longshot, but if you want to borrow it, P.M. me. We are in the same city.
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1969 Deluxe, owned since 1973
1973 Westfalia, owned since 1983
1980 Westfalia, watercooled conversion
1985 Westfalia, stock!
1986 Westfakia, Audi I-4 conversion
A couple of trucks and a couple of Jeeps

[bsairhead]

[74 Westy]

One thing that crossed my mind was that the guy at european motorworks said that when #1 is at tdc #3 would have a lot of lash, but thats not the case here, #3 rockers are both tight like its in overlap

[74 Westy]

I did actually install my 009 but i got the same result. The only way this thing will run on all 4 is if i lash the valves starting on #1 with the rotor pointing at #3 meaning that each cylinder has bookoo lash at tdc.

[bsairhead]

[Wildthings]

[airschooled]

You can go down the distributor drive oil hole with a remote inspection camera to see if your dots are aligned. Are you feeling lucky that you got your slot and dots aligned on the cam/gear itself?
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[74 Westy]

I know the dots on the crank and cam are aligned, the dot and the slot on the cam, not so sure. I did not know that was a thing at the time and i eyeballed it based off how the lobes and dot on the stock cam lined up.

[74 Westy]

I turned the fan about 90 degrees before #1 tdc before #3 intake loosened up and about 30 degrees after before the exhaust loosened up.

[74 Westy]

Will i be able to see if the dot and slot on the cam are aligned through the distributor drive gear hole with a camera?

[Wildthings]

[SGKent]

bing, yahoo, 4search, duckduckgo etc "printable degree wheel." Print one to match the size of the fan. Then rotate the engine to TDC on #1 when the distributor is pointing to #1, and tape it to the fan so that you can tape a metal pointer - piece of wire etc., at TDC. Then as Robbie suggested determine the valve timing on #1 and see how close it is to the published specs. That will answer the question for sure.
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[Wildthings]

[Wildthings]

I don't think you can put the cam gear on the cam in the wrong position. I am pretty sure the holes in the cam and gear are not evenly spaced and will mate in only one position.

One of the problems with not having the distributor drive meshed correctly with the brass gear is that it makes trouble shooting running problems that much harder. Most engines I work on for others have their ignitions out of time for one reason or another and are often way off, having the drive installed wrong and the spark plug wires rotated just adds to peoples' problems with getting these engines to run right.

[goodliving25]

I had a Pertronix only fire on 2 cylinders before. It would only fire on 1 and 3. If you have another dist. drop it in and see if that fixes it.

[Jeff Geisen]

Pertronix ignitions that skip firing certain cylinders have always had a magnet rod missing from the collar that slides onto the dizzy drive shaft from my experience.
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[SGKent]

[74 Westy]

I looked up the specs for my cam.
Intake opens 32 BT close 56 AB Exhaust opens 67 BB closes 21 AT

My actual findings were similar but not exactly the same, am i looking for when the valve visibly starts moving or when the valve is all the way open ?

[74 Westy]

I did a little experiment. I reinstalled the 009 exactly to factory specs, started the engine with the valves correctly adjusted per the manual and it started and ran on just 2&4 again. So i decided to do the 180 backwards adjustment on just 1&3 and leave 2&4 alone. It starts and runs on all 4 like this albeit poorly. I decided to check the compression in this config. 1&3 read 150-160 2&4 read 120. Not sure if this makes any sense. Next up trying to make it run backwatds on two cylinders 😂

[SGKent]