Ignition timing help

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Kieranj123
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Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2025 10:36 pm
Your interest in the forum: I have a good collection of vintage vehicles and need some
Spare items and knowledge for my javelin
Given Name: Kieran

Ignition timing help

Post by Kieranj123 »

Hi everyone, I’m just bought a 1951 javelin. To go along with my other vintage Collection.

I was having some running issues with my car underpowered and just wasn’t right.
It’s got electric ignition, and I’ve just renew the basics leads plugs cap rotor arm. Checked carbs for balance etc

I have adjusted the ignition timing to what I thought would be ok due to no being able to find a degree valve in a long manuals etc
I’ve gone to 6 degrees static and now she’s very good but want to be totally sure I’m not going the wrong way

What should the ignition timing be?
And the brass nut on the vac advance what setting should I be looking at?

Some information to make some
Base adjustments would help massively

Regards
Kieran
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Re: Ignition timing help

Post by Forumadmin »

Hi Kieran.
Normally Javelins are set to TDC static but any wear on the distributor may make it difficult to start or run smoothly. So often the best thing to do is set to 21 deg advance above 2000 rpm with an extra 10 deg advance on vacuum. The advance curve can be set on fully electronic dizzies (not just Hall effect points which still use the mechanical advance system) . It is this curve which is nearly always incorrect as over the years the wrong distributor has been substituted or is worn.
See this and many other posts on the subject.
viewtopic.php?p=46985#p46985
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Re: Ignition timing help

Post by Forumadmin »

The wheel on the vac advance should be set in the middle of its travel before setting the timing. It is a micrometer adjustment for timing, not Then you should loosen the clamp at the base of distributor to adjust the timing dynamicaly using the timing light (21deg at 2000 rpm) or staticly using a voltmeter (TDC). Note many dizzies have far too much advance for a Jowett engine or if worn advance too quickly from static.
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