Timing

The first time we visited Auburn and the Museum when I went to the men's toilet in the Museum I stood there thinking,
"I wonder how many EUREKA moments took place in there with the staff then scrambling back to their drawing boards???????????"
Good ideas come from all sorts of places.

I can't tell you how many problems I have solved while in bed thinking about them, or I ask my wife what she thinks. She has had many good ideas over the years, I must admit.
CORDially Mike

Mike, sheer desperation forced the brain wave.
The distributor timing had not been set before the engine went into the frame. A friend was helping to find the compression stroke on 4L with a finger in the plug hole while I turned the flywheel from below the car. Unfortunately he could not feel any compression, we gave up that day.
That evening thinking about how could I do it by myself the balloon idea popped into my head. Eventually I had to set up a mirror to observer the balloon while turning the flywheel while lying under the car.
I had considering patenting the idea but decided to share it with others.

I like the Balloon trick.
CORDially Mike

The line going to the vacuum wipers.
Pat Leahy

Pat where do you connect the gauge?
Thanks Terry.

I have one thing to add after you have done previously listed items. I check vacuum level after timing. I adjust timing to the highest RPM. I have found this to be optimum performance and coolest running. On all of our Cords, the timing changes slightly either way, but all perform best this way.
Pat Leahy

If the distributor timing has been disturbed and you a re starting from scratch.
The simplest way to do it is to gut an old spark plug then fit a balloon to it. Fit the balloon plug to number 4L cylinder
As you turn the engine over the balloon will start to expand on compression.
Then go to the bell housing window and watch for the 4L mark to arrive.

I'm not a 810/12 expert but could he also turn the motor over so the rotor is poining at 4L and look for the timing mark. That would tell him if the dist is adjusted some what close. Please correct me if I am wrong Jim. I know you will!
CORDially Mike

If, and only if, you plan having your car judged... The correct plug is the 2 ring Champion H10 plug. Some call it the beer bottle plug because of its shape. Do a search in this forum for my full descriptions and pictures of the plugs. If purchasing this plug best know the cost will be $2600.00 for the last set I saw on Ebay. A much less costly plug is the black body Champion H10 plug. Then the cad plated body Champion H10 plug. Some enjoy the Autolite 216 because it has the black body and is the correct length and heat range. What you are using is not correct as Jim has mentioned....


Gary Parsons

Hi Dirk,
First make sure you have the correct firing order - they are different for the standard and supercharged car.
1. Yes the 4L cylinder is the left side rear most cylinder.
2. the timing mark is a line on the flat to the rear of the teeth. There should be "4L"  marked next to the line. There is a second timing mark on the flywheel and I forget what cylinder that is so make sure you have the right one. It is best when you find it to paint the line white so it is easier to find.
3. Use the Autolight plugs. We have had problems with the Champion plugs in recent years.

Jim

I'm trying to time my Cord 810. (1248S)
1. The owners companion says firing order starts with 4L cylinder. Is this the rear most cylinder on the drivers side? Is this where I should connect to the spark plug wire?
2. I see the timing window on the right (passenger side) of the engine block. I can see the flywheel and some teeth in there. Can anyone tell me what the timing mark looks like? I can't see it. This could be because I'm not connected the the correct cylinder spark plug, which refers back to my first question.
3. I have Champion RH10C spark plugs installed. I previously had Autolight 216 plugs installed. Does anyone have suggestions on what plugs they are using?

Thanks, gentlemen!

Dirk Leu
410-905-2859
[email protected]