Dan_J

Dan_J

Member
Hey,

I've been having numerous problems with the ignition on my 1980 SIII 2.25 petrol. Managed to get it running but still not happy with it.

Considering taking it to a land rover specialist to get the timing and general running adjusted.

anyone have any suggestions for places to take it near oxford?

thank you
 
Dan_J said:
Hey,

I've been having numerous problems with the ignition on my 1980 SIII 2.25 petrol. Managed to get it running but still not happy with it.

Considering taking it to a land rover specialist to get the timing and general running adjusted.

anyone have any suggestions for places to take it near oxford?

thank you
Click to expand...

Any garage should be able to set the timing on that, it is one of the simplest ignition systems around.
 
X1, could you be more specific. You may get some good advice on this part of the forum. An S3 petrol engine is basically 1950's technology, not rocket science. Asking a garage to do this is money for nothing, unless it's seriously beyond your capabilities. Ignition stuff is pretty straightforward.
 
The trouble with old engines is the amount of wear they have endured. The book settings are for a new engine and often the true setting needs to be a little different. Although I use a strobe light sometimes, more often than not, I set it be hear.

Col
 
Thanks again for everyones help. Much appreciated.

I took a quick video earlier but can’t seem to upload it. It seems to be missing when I rev it up and getting occasional back fire up the intake. So I’m guessing timing. The sparking issue I’m at loss but it seems to firing for the moment at least.

I’m fairly compentant with a spanner, so I’ve borrowed a strobe from a friend but have never actually set timing before myself.

Cheers,
dan
 
Last edited:
Dan_J said:
Hey,

I've been having numerous problems with the ignition on my 1980 SIII 2.25 petrol. Managed to get it running but still not happy with it.

Considering taking it to a land rover specialist to get the timing and general running adjusted.

anyone have any suggestions for places to take it near oxford?

thank you
Click to expand...
What side of Oxford? I might be able to point you towards someone.

Poor running is likely ignition and/or carb related.

Are you still running points? Well worth upgrading to an electronic ignition kit, they aren't pricey and will basically solve all these issues. Depending what carb you have, it may want a rebuild or if it's a cheap Chinese replacement, may need swapping out for another one.

https://simonbbc.com/land-rover-ignition-bundle-for-4-cylinder-engines-choose-your-options/
 
I'm south of Oxford.

I've got a new electronic distributor on its way to me as we speak. I had purchased one previous but after contacting the supplier I may have a faulty one so just waiting for that to arrive.

Believe she is still on her original carb and almost certainly due a rebuild. Its done circa 80 000 miles and I'm unsighted to whether its had a rebuild before.
 
When I first started using my 109 after the several repairs it needed, it ran rough with the odd misfire. I believe it had been run on unleaded fuel before coming to me and this caused some burning of the valve seats. It was smokey as well. I didn't do anything to the head but started putting the lead additive in the petrol tank and the engine started getting better.

Col
 
Thanks col for the tip. I had been running it with additive but because it hasn't run for so long I have just put in some unleaded i had in a fuel can for now. Need to get to a motor factors.

So I have started to get somewhere with the old girl. She is now starting each time albeit a little struggle sometimes. I have attached the timing strobe and the timing appears well out. The mark on the wheel is about 1.5cm to the left of the static marks as i look at the engine from the front of the car - therefore I am going to attempt to correct it this afternoon. I am assuming she's struggling to start because the timing is so far out. hopefully once adjusted she will begin to run better all round.
 
have you tried turning the distributer a little in either direction with the engine running? Get the engine up to temperature and try it. You can hear when the timing is good. If you can't get it running sweet like this, there may be other issues to sort out.

Col
 
Do have a go at what Col say's.You can do this at the same time you are using the strobe light.With an old motor wear in the distributer drive may hinder getting timing spot on with the light. Doing the last bit by ear for smoothest running.
 
So managed to adjust the timing slightly by turning the distributor once running. I would go as far as say it helped but still not perfect.

I’m going to take off, clean and where possible service the carb.
And once the electronic distributor arrives will give that a go too.

Thanks for the help.
 
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