Thread: V8 mechanical advance springs

Give Blknight a PM
In Perth i would go to Coventry's ...

Thanks Mike.

I pulled the cap off the distributor today and got as far as pulling the circlip off to get the baseplate out of the way and couldn't find my circlip pliers.

I've been looking at RAVE and the exploded view of the distributor and it doesn't show any springs.
Are there springs in there and if not how does it control mechanical advance?

Justin,

I'd try Jag/Rover Spares at Kelvin Grove or MR at Redcliffe.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by Utemad

Thanks Mike.

I pulled the cap off the distributor today and got as far as pulling the circlip off to get the baseplate out of the way and couldn't find my circlip pliers.

I've been looking at RAVE and the exploded view of the distributor and it doesn't show any springs.
Are there springs in there and if not how does it control mechanical advance?

Not sure of what your seeing ... but does yours look like this

Series III Stage 1 with a bit of a difference The first photo shows the mechanical advance with the spring pins (springs removed)

If not ... then advance is controlled via the ECU ??

I'm not "on the money" for knowing the 94 Disco?? .. but would expect it to be the same or similar

Question... Why do you want to get to the springs???

Thanks Mike.

That is the exact same distributor by the looks of it. Guess I really need to find those circlip pliers. I wonder why RAVE doesn't show them in its exploded view?

Reason being is I want to fiddle about with recurving it to suit LPG. I don't want to grind the cam plates as yet so thought I might just add a softer primary and stiffer secondary and see how things go. That would give more initial and less overall advance. At least at the revs I drive it at. Rarely over 3500rpm. Except maybe in first gear.

Currently running 12BTDC static. Don't want to run any more than that so it doesn't over advance.

I've been flicking through two of Des Hammill's books online. Will buy them when they both become available again on Amazon. They are about half price on Amazon compared to bookshops.

Originally Posted by Utemad

Thanks Mike.

That is the exact same distributor by the looks of it. Guess I really need to find those circlip pliers. I wonder why RAVE doesn't show them in its exploded view?

Reason being is I want to fiddle about with recurving it to suit LPG. I don't want to grind the cam plates as yet so thought I might just add a softer primary and stiffer secondary and see how things go. That would give more initial and less overall advance. At least at the revs I drive it at. Rarely over 3500rpm. Except maybe in first gear.

Currently running 12BTDC static. Don't want to run any more than that so it doesn't over advance.

I've been flicking through two of Des Hammill's books online. Will buy them when they both become available again on Amazon. They are about half price on Amazon compared to bookshops.

Just twist the rotor and you should feel the spring weight of the mechanical advance (this will confirm that it's under that plate)


Did you find a shop that sells springs??

I can get that circlip out via really "tiny" screwdriver .. Need 2 // 1 to pick it out of the groove .. the other to lift // Once you get one side of the clip "over the edge of the groove" .. just "feed" the screwdriver into the exposed groove .. and the circlip will lift out of it

I don't have any good "input" about the static timing position for yours .. but can let you know that my mates (Yes .. we all have these stories ) is running a 390 Cleveland with gas cam .... and standard (points) dizzy with standard advance curve

His is set at 25 to 30 degrees at idle and .. Runs great

So yours at 12 degrees static ... Is that the best she can do ??

I take it that you have been following Stirling's Post (gas motor C/P 12:1)

Have you thought about fixing all problems via a Haltec computer setup??
(and get it on a dyno)

I haven't looked for the springs yet. Should get on to it before Friday.

I set mine to 12 as that is what Des recommends in his book for the 3.9 but that is for petrol.
I have been following Sterling's post but not too closely.

I've got an electronic advance unit too but have bypassed it while playing with the distributor.

I don't want to sink that much money into this. After all LPG is meant to save money and putting the chip in it would cost a bomb. If I was going to spend that sort of money on this I'd build up a 4.6L. Which I would like to do.

Originally Posted by Utemad

I haven't looked for the springs yet. Should get on to it before Friday.

I set mine to 12 as that is what Des recommends in his book for the 3.9 but that is for petrol.

I've got an electronic advance unit too but have bypassed it while playing with the distributor.

Yep ...I get your situation ... Happy medium between gas & petrol ... It's the petrol that won't run good past the 12

The electronic advance unit ... What's the deal there?? Genuine or Aftermarket ...... As an after thought .... does it replace the mechanical advance ... Hence why the RAVE shows no springs???