odd one with the TDC and timing

[xavier]

I put a new timing belt in and had the marks for TDC perfect on crank and cam, but when I put everything back together the distributer was retarded so that the car would not idle. Advancing the spark sorted this out and it now runs perfect. The same thing happened last time I changed the timing belt. Should this happen?

[daimlerman]

This an early car with the dizzy under the front of the inlet manifold?

[xavier]

yes it is an 1984

[Brianmoooore]

Then there's a timing mark on the distributor drive cog as well!
Think it may actually be on the distributor, but it's easiest to make your own mark on the cog before you take the old belt off.

[daimlerman]

Then you need to line up the timing mark on the jackshaft as well as the marks on the crank and the cam!

The jackshaft drives the dizzy as well as the oilpump on your early engine,on the later cars it just drives the oilpump,so it's position is not critical to the running of the engine.

I would suggest that you seek out a copy of Haynes 815 manual,this deals with 6 cylinder E21 with a suppliment for E30,and shows just where this third timing mark is located.
Sadly,this manual is long out of print,but they pop up from time to time on ebay.

[xavier]

Thanks guys. so there is 3 points that need to be lined up on my early motor? I will go and read up on the jackshaft.

[Andyboy]

You were lucky that the distributor moved - they can really corrode in place. I mark the rotor arm to the distributor body and then use a timing light to see just how worn out the distributor actually is!