Long story short. I had a friend try to help me out and check the timing on the 20R. Driving home I could tell something was way off. Felt much better before he adjusted it. From what I can tell it he set it to 0, but from what I'm reading it should be 8 BTDC.

My question is how do I determine this?

Looking at my 22R in the garage you can use the timing marks.


My 20R doesn't have something like this, or it has broken off? A quick search found other 20Rs with a similar setup. Early 20r?


Here is where I set the timing. Based on where it was before it was adjusted, and using the 22R as a reference.


Runs decent now, but I'd like to verify everything if possible.

 

I think some of the rebuilt pumps had a weird setup like that. I found TDC the good old fashioned way (pencil in #1 cylinder bore) then verified the notch on the crank pulley to the pump. One of the reference marks on the pump should line up with the notch on the crank pulley. That should be TDC. You can figure the rest out from that.

 

You just need to make sure it is idling at 800-900 rpm and disconnect the vacuum advance, the mark on the 20 r is TDC so you will have to guess where 8 BTC is or use one of those expensive timing lights with adjustable timing delay thing, you dial in the advance you want on the timing light and the timing light adjust the flash so it appears on TDC.
That said you could probably put a little more timing into it depending on the fuel octane, and condition of the engine I run 12 degrees on mine.

 

I figured I'd need to find TDC this way. I'll do this first to make sure everything looks correct and figure out how to get it to 8 BTDC. Thanks

 

I'll see if a buddy of mine had a timing light I can borrow. Hopefully it has this advance feature.

Any idea what the second mark on my crank pulley would indicate?

 

If you get the answer, let me know. I’m curious about that myself.

 

if you don't have a timing light you can get it very close by removing the coil lead from the distributor end and fitting a spark plug to it. turn on the ignition and slowly turn the engine with a spanner, watch the timing marks and when you hear the spark stop turning the engine. It will be very close to the timing you would see with a light at idle. I didn't realise it had two marks on the pulley, Pearce has supplied a great diagram.

 

The early motors without the timing marks on the pump have the 2 marks on the pulley.

 

His timing light had this feature. Super handy. Looks like I just need to adjust it to the second mark (on the right) for 8 BTDC

 

Thanks for that scan. I used this as my guide and it seems to be running better. It's set to the mark on the right of the pulley now.