distributor timing

[Chris KC]

There can be few original DK4A distributors still running as they were when Austin fitted them. If you are reluctant to strip the unit, set up a DTI on one side of the rotor arm and twist the distributor shaft by hand against the advance springs, it's then a fairly easy task to figure out what the max advance angle is from the measured deflection. The rate (and slop) of the advance springs is quite another matter, and can only be meaningfully assessed by using a strobe light and rev counter while the engine is running to plot the advance curve. Timing on A7's is not particularly critical and in any case the ideal amount varies from car to car (with compression ratio, for example) so you may have to content yourself with a 'ball park' figure that goes alright on the road. As others have said, too much advance is the main thing to avoid.