Timing-1939 P-8

[TodFitch]

I concur with Bill especially with respect to watching Keith's excellent videos.

For myself, I:

• Disconnect the primary wire from the coil to the distributor at the distributor.
• Connect a continuity tester between the stud where the primary coil wire attaches and ground.
• Rotate the engine (I remove the cover on the grill and use the hand crank) until I am at top dead center on #1 based on the timing marks. It is easier to rotate the engine if the spark plugs are out.
• My timing marks are on the flywheel, for some 1934 and all later models the marks are on the crank pulley.
• Move the distributor mounting plate to the middle of its range on and tighten it.
• Then I loosen the clamping bolt that holds the mounting plate to the distributor and rotate the distributor until the points just open based on the sound of my continuity tester.
• Clamp the bolt and I am done.

If I wish to make a minor change to the timing then I can loosen the screw on the mounting plate and get a few degrees of rotation on the distributor in either direction.

[Bill Davis]

Flathead Plymouth engines are timed using cylinder 1.  Cylinders 1 & six move "together"
but are 180 degrees away from one another.  Keith (on this message board) has some great videos on
YouTube concerning all aspects of rebuilding then resetting a flathead Plymouth engine.  Search for
Keith's Garage on YouTube. 

Administrator:  If I am not allowed to mention someone's YouTube channel on this forum, please
delete this post.

[DENNIS P NOLAN]

Sorry for these dumb questions- which cylinder is used to time it - 1 or 6-? and the small plate showing 'degrees' at base of the distributor-is for minor adjustments?- so you start with the bolt at the base of the Distributor?-then use that screw (opposite side of the bolt to loosen the distributor) to further adjust-?
Thanks
D