Sticking distributor and timing.

[xavier]

I need to set the timing on my early e30 323i. It has the distributor on the top of the engine, as opposed to most m20s which have the distributor on the front. The distributor does not want to turn in it’s housing. Any ideas for getting it to move? Also what degrees should the timing be set at on these older semi analog systems?

[Tineca]

Have you loosened the clamp.

[xavier]

Yep loosened the clamp. I soaked it in WD40 and eventually got it to move, but it doesn’t rotate far enough to get to the TDC notch on the distributor. There does not seem to be enough adjustment in it. Any suggestions?

[Speedtouch]

Try removing the dizzy and cleaning everything to free it all up, being careful not to drop gunge into the engine, of course.

[Tineca]

Have you changed the cambelt recently? It's easy to lose tdc when doing the cambelt as the dizzy drive crank can move. Don't ask me how I know this

[xavier]

Yes Tineca you are correct. On the older 323i the timing goes dodgy when you do the cam belt change.
With more WD40 and a small rubber mallet I got the distributor out. I lifted it completely out and turned the whole dizzy and put it back in. I am now able to set the rotor arm to TDC. Once this is all done, do I need to get the engine running and turn the dizzy to get 19 degrees advance, or should that be it?
What is the Z mark on the Damper?

[Tineca]

Hi made up you got that out. You need to get piston 1 on tdc on the compression stroke and if you take the cap off you can see a little line in the metal distributor base. The rotor arm needs to point at this mark. Hope that helps.

[xavier]

Once it is all at TDC do I then have to run the motor and change the dizzy to get 19 degrees ahead of TDC. ?

[Tineca]

Yes make sure it's all lined up. If it runs OK just make tiny adjustments to the timing till it runs most happily, you can use a timing light but I prefer to just listen to it.