timing question

[london_chris]

i got car from garage and it wont rev over 3000 and they said its the timing but they cant do the timing properly as the marks are on the cambelt cover, which i dont hav as i snapped and and am now sourcing a new one. it also drinks fuel like a fish, do you think that the timing can cause this not revving much over 3000 and drinkin fuel?

[Jon_nova1]

is it carb or injection?? what litre?

[Adam]

You can use the cam sprocket mark, and the crank sprocket mark that points to a notch in the oil pump.

[london_chris]

You can use the cam sprocket mark, and the crank sprocket mark that points to a notch in the oil pump.

i know i did that and told the garage that, but im on about the dizzy timing that you use a strobe to time it and they sais that i need camblet cover, its a 1.4 sr

[Jon_nova1]

arrr, i've got the same problem myself and have just ordered a full cam housing from vauxhall, the prices are

Rear cover ?18.69
Front cover ?9.29
Front lower cover ?10.99

for 1.4 injection

[Adam]

Yeah, you need the marker on the cambelt cover to shine the strobe at.

[Jon_nova1]

although my timing cant be right, but it still goes over 3000RPM, so i doubt its that?

[london_chris]

mine does go over 3000 but it just has no power there, cheers long live the nova that is what i kept asking the garage and they wouldnt tell me

[Adam]

You wont be able set it with a strobe until you have a cambelt cover mark.

A big flat spot does sound like ignition timing way off.

[london_chris]

cheers, i wish the local mechanics could just say that to me lol

[mowgli]

I think that you may have a leak around the carb area.
Also pull the little vacuum pipe off from the carb end, and suck on it (with the engine running) if the engine note changes, then the advance retard is ok. If the note doesn't change, the advance retard diaphragm is shot, which will massively affect your timing, so that when you try to rev it, it won't like it. you can get the advance retatd mechanism separately

[Adam]

The vacuum advance unit will only effect timing at idle....
The "proper" timing advance is done mechanically inside the dizzy with springs/weights and centrifugal force.

[Stuart]

time it by ear ffs :p