Another help me get this engine started! Thread Options

[crash914]

What is the correct fuel pressure for a 1.7? I thought it was 2 bar?

[Literati914]

What is the correct fuel pressure for a 1.7? I thought it was 2 bar?

Google thinks 29psi is 2 bar. I'll have to double check where I got 29psi from ..are you thinking I'm too high or low?

Another fuel related question I've been considering - how much should I expect pressure to drop down after the car sits a bit? My gauge shows it drops and I'd think that the engine would fire easier on first try if pressure remained at the required level. When running it stays right at 29-30.

I realize not starting on first try could be my timing slightly off.. I'll be addressing that with a strobe, so we'll see if it fires quicker after that.

[emerygt350]

My car doesn't hold pressure much more than 30 minutes between starts. Starts right up from 0. I actually have YouTube videos of that you could Google if interested.

Timing is definitely going to affect start up.

[Literati914]

Adventures in timing:

Got my strobe light and verified my static timing at 0.. it idles pretty descent here, but stumbles off idle and into part throttle.

For the heck of it, I went to 27degrees @ idle speed - things seemed ok here too. Maybe better actually. Then I took it back to static.

Then I ended up popping the return spring off of the assembly at the TB, to try and manually get the engine to 3500rpm (while working the timing light - I thought). This basically failed tho, 'cause even when you get the arm where you want it, it immediately wonders off when you let go.

So, I'll need to get someone to help with that.. but in truth 3500rpm is a little LOUDER on this exhaust system than I want to put my elderly neighbor through.

So, driving (or towing) it to a more remote area may be in order, though I'd really have to figure out a good spot here in the city.

Anyway, my question is.. can the car be driven at static timing.. and/or perhaps advanced to 27 degrees at idle before driving? Oh, also my A/F gauge was reading 10.2, so that's pretty rich I believe.

[emerygt350]

I would put it at 8 static. That is about where you will end up after all is said and done. Mine likes anything between 8 and 9.5ish. 7 is the conservative idle advance. You have a 1.7 so maybe best to start with 7.

I normally set my idle timing and then check to see where it ends up all in. That hold the engine at 3500 drives me nuts. Just make sure it is idling low enough for the weights to stay out of it. Normally below 1000.

[emerygt350]

Was that 10 at idle? With your timing so retarded it will probably affect it. I normally end up around 12 at idle. Again, everything I have ever heard is afr at idle is unreliable and it's the cruise and under load where you really want to pay attention anyway. To set the idle mix correctly you need a co meter I believe. I just set it to taste (smell) with the pot on the ECU. On a 72 you may not have the pot on the ECU.

[Literati914]

I would put it at .. You have a 1.7 so maybe best to start with 7.

Some, some 1.7s supposedly have a 5 degree mark intended for the static setting .. mine does not ( I have 0 tdc and the red mark for 27). I'll set it at 7 degrees if that seems safe.

I have a dumb question though (yea another one!), I haven't really been able to wrap my head around :
Weren't these cars made before ADJUSTABLE timing lights were common? that being the reason for multiple fan markings? ..and since I have an adjustable light, why wouldn't setting the light to 27 degrees and then rotate the distributor while idling, (concentrating on the "0"/TDC mark instead of the provided 27 degree red mark) not put timing where it needs to be?

[emerygt350]

I have no idea what they were smoking that day. At idle, just set it to 7, then rev it up and see where it is around 35k. I preset my light to around 29 degrees on the rev, again, hard to do while revving. Were timing marks expensive? Couldn't they just give us the whole lineup? 0-40?