Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[TGos]

Hi

Can anyone assist with how to set the timing on an E494A Anglia / Popular engine. I am in the process of taking over a vehicle that has spark and fuel but refuses to fire.

Regards

Terry

[Nic Jarman]

When I first trained as a mechanic my trainer said " if you set the timing to TDC and you have compression, fuel and a spark it will run, perhaps not that well but it will run". Good luck.
_________________
1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

[Greg]

Hi Terry,
You should have a steel 'pin' screwed into the front of the block, near to where the fan belt runs virtually in line with the oil filler tube.
Remove this pin ( 1/2" spanner if I remember rightly)...replace back in the hole the opposite way round, ie thread facing out, whilst slowly turning the engine over via the starting handle, with the ignition turned OFF. You will feel the pin drop into the hole a bit further as it locates into the hole in the camshaft sprocket.
In this position the rotor arm should point to spark plug contact number 1 on the distributor cap.
( this is presuming the engine is together and distributor has not been removed and refitted incorrectly)
This will give you the basic position of the distributor and should get it to fire.
Hope this helps,
All the best,
Greg

[TGos]

Thanks to both. Greg, I do need to say that is the most original method of setting up, and i shall surely give it a go. I have seen the pin in question and have tried, in vain, to visually line it up with something on the crank pulley. I feed a fool. Should I remove the plugs to ease turning? I would not like to push against compression and then shear the pin if the crank starts to run free.

Thanks for the advice.

Terry

[Rick]

It's easier to do it with the plugs out yes. The pin drops into an indent in the cam sprocket, it won't shear anything.

R
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[Rick]

Scanned from an E83W handbook.....



RJ
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[Greg]

Well done Rick, that's the very thing

[roverdriver]

The timing pin method was first used by Ford in the Model A of 1928. I am interested to learn that it continued in use in these engines.

There is one possible problem- if the camshaft gear has been replaced, it is possible that there is no 'dimple' for the pin to find.
_________________
Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[Greg]

[michael1703]

whilst you are doing this, its worth checking the leads are in the correct order, you now know where #1 is, you can now work out which cylinder it should correspond to next and trace the leads to their respective cylinders

[Rick]

[TGos]

Thanks to all for the correspondence, it is of great held. I am unable to open the scan, but progress is being made with the timing. The indent has been located and rotor is nowhere near number one. Should i swop lead positions or lift the distributor and rotate the shaft. Is it gear, spline or key located on the cam shaft.

Regards

Terry

[victor 101]

Hi, distributor sits on an offset keyway so only fits in one position, if your rotor is pointing to No4 rotate engine one revolution and it should point to No1, if not set the distributor in the best position and swap leads to suit noting direction of rotation and firing order 1243.

[Nic Jarman]

If the indent is on the camshaft then the contact that the rotor arm is pointing to must be No 1, so rearange the leads acordingly.
_________________
1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

[TGos]

Thanks to all once again.

Going to watch a round of South African National 4x4 challenge on Saturday, so Sunday will be the day of judgement.

Will update