Series 2 distributor problem?

[bentleighboy]

Greetings all, a quick but hopefully simple question. Just got my swb 2.25 petrol 2a back from my local LR mechanickry who did a head gasket job for me. Looks beautiful, but driving the car away (after hours- ) the car feels worse than ever. Runs rough, no power, won't rev out. Usually a sprightly little fella. It must be the ignition leads think I. So a check reveals leads all over the place- a quick rearrangement puts them back into the correct order; 1342 with the button turning anticlockwise. Number 1 lead is the closest to number one cylinder. Hey presto- even worse again. Wont even fire properly. Apart from a little pop or backfire. I had this car running beautifully before it blew its head gasket, and all the ignition components are new. :confused:
Frustrated beyond belief.
Any ideas?

cheers

[JDNSW]

I would check that you have in fact got the #1 ignition lead in the correct place - a quick check would be to remove all except #1 spark plug, and check where the rotor button is pointing when on this compression, turning by hand.

If this is correct then recheck that you have the direction of rotation and order correct.

If nothing found, then check that points are opening about right. One thing that can cause problems is if the flexible lead that carries movement of the breaker plate is broken, so that you are relying on chance earthing. Also, look for bad or intermittent connections anywhere in the low voltage ignition circuit - typically engine/chassis earth, if the coil is on the bulkhead and the battery earthed to the engine, or the ignition switch itself.

And even though you have recently replaced all the ignition components, you may still have faulty ones - symptoms could be anything in the ignition, but especially the coil, capacitor and leads. And have a look at the plugs, since they had the head off - look for damage or incorrect gaps. And there is a slight possibility that it has ended up with the wrong plugs.

John

[bentleighboy]

Heres the fix:
-crank engine by hand until on compression on cylinder one (shelled out for a compression gauge for this !)
-behold- the button points to the rear lead right hand side of car!! Not front left!! Now connect other leads 1342
-crank a tiny bit more until the timing mark on fly wheel lines up with mark on crank case for 98 oct
-ok- at this point the points should just be opening (by definition! can't be otherwise)
-rotate dist until points begin to just open right there- check with multi meter
-still, engine doesn't start
-oops better put some petrol in it :wasntme:
-yep engine starts :eek:
-warm engine and check timing
- all sweet
-now, receive wilting looks from wife and daughter
-thanks all for you help :angel: