Griffith Timing and distributor lock

[PTone]

Hi

I have just, partially, fixed my sons Griffith 500 but I have 2 questions to complete the fix:

- The engine wouldn't fire up so i checked the distributor body which moves too easily. The timing was way out. Anyway i managed to get the engine to start and work happily but where on eart do i find the distributor pinch bolt to make sure the disty stays fixed? more importantly, how do I get to it to tighten it up?

- Can you also tell me the cotrect timimg for the engine - i can then set it up before tightening up the distributor body. Also it looks to me like the timing mark is a raised rivet on the crankshaft pulley which is supposed to line up with the 3" metal spike just above it - is this correct?

Thanks folks

[Johno]

1 - The dissy is clamped, using a foked clamp which fits around the base shoulder of the body and has a single bolt to tighten which should be seen from above. it may be obscured by a hose routed over it. It is on the near side.

2 - Timing marks are on the pulley, however, take care as they are notoriously wayward. Generally I think between 6-8 degrees, but prepared to be shot down in flames over this as I don't run a dissy

[rev-erend]

As Johno says - pinch bolt is near the Dizzy - from the front .. look down beside the dizzy to the right .. think it's a 13 or 14mm best got at with a wobbly head.

Timing is 8 degress or more accurate 24 degrees at 4000 rpm.

No 1 cyl is passenger side front cylinder.

clamp air advance retard.

[GreenV8S]

Easiest way to get at the pinch bolt is with a ring spanner.

The timing marks are the usual set of grooves on the outer face of the crankshaft damper. There's a pointer bolted to the front cover. The crankshaft damper isn't always a reliable reference so if this is the first time you've used it it's a good idea to confirm # TDC mechanically (e.g. using a dead stop) before trusting it. But if you are starting from nothing and just want to get the thing running you could assume it's accurate and hope for the best.

[PTone]

Thanks for your help everyone - it will have to wait for the weekend for me to check it all again. i can't rememebr seeingthe clamoping bolt on the dizzy though but will recheck.

much appreciated.
Paul

[GV]

Run the car up to temp - find a long staight and take it up to 30mph in fourth, then floor the throttle. Pick up should be gradual without any pinking. If there is, adjust the dizzy accordingly until you get the desired response by either retarding or advancing where necessary.

The timing marks are not reliable and the above method was suggested to me by a reknowned expert in RV8s.

[PTone]

Thnks GV - thats an interesting way of working it out - never heard that one before. but, hey , it's definately worth testing to see if the timimng works or not.

do you know if the timing marks are unreliable becuase its not a 'regular, standard' Rover V8, but a bored out, high perfromance variant instead?
Paul