My Targa has been running OK in recent years (a result of slight adjustments to iron out low speed running issues – see later). However I decided that I was fed up with the temperamental cold starting, erratic tick over and watching the rev counter needle wavering around when in the 2-3K range. Time to install my spare (near perfect condition) Distributor. The engine would not fire after the swap. I started out with everything set for an easy change over. However even after wondering (how?) has the timing ended up 180 degrees out (it wasn't), resetting it made no difference. My “new” Distributor has a Rotor Arm (7.2k) but no Cap and no plastic shield over the points so I used the plastic shield off my old Distributor (a translucent one). The Cap was a bit fiddly to fit with the old shield in place. Success after a spare shield (a black one) was fitted, the engine fired up immediately (I cannot explain that!) and ran – but not very well. Dialling in the timing brought about a strange phenomenon. The engine ran at a steady 1150-1200 rpm (on the Timing Light display, but every 4 or 5 seconds the revs rose by about 250 rpm and then settled back down). I concluded a mixture issue but was very reluctant to start altering MFI Pump settings. I had a chat with 911Hillclimber to get his thoughts on the issue (thanks Graham – a couple of great tips) Next morning, with the engine nicely warmed through, I bit the bullet and backed off the slow running rack by two clicks (that is a lot) - what a transformation.
I have always live by the mantra of everything having to be set up correctly for the MFI to work as intended but it appears that I had managed to tune out the failings of my old worn out distributor by mal-adjusting the MFI. I surmise that when accelerating or running at higher speed the vacuum advance starts to operate and tightened everything up. So higher speed running has always been OK
Did about 80 miles yesterday afternoon on everything from dual carriageways to 15 miles on single track Welsh lanes with first gear climbs and the car ran perfectly, pulled like a train and was more economical (helps offset the cost of Esso Supreme+) A bit more fine tuning to do but I am over the moon.
The “new” distributor is a 2.7RS version with right hand located points which supersedes the original RS Distributors – may be the old shield was incompatible in some way (it all works now, that is the main thing) – my 2.4S distributor has left hand located points.
As an aside my Timing Light has a 2 stroke mode. Inadvertently switching the Light to this mode can certainly cause a
moment!
I would like to get my old Distributor rebuilt / restored to full health so if anyone has any recommendations / experience of who to approach regarding restoration of my old Distributor it would be appreciated.
John
