The Lotus Grand Tourers

Ok got the distributor pointing at No 1 lead then clockwise 1,3,4,2. I set the engine at 10 degrees before top-dead-centre. The problem now is the engine is backfiring through the carby. Any advice?

Thanks.

Ok I have set the distributor rotor a no 1 lead and the firing order 1,3,4,2 and the crank at 10 degrees before topdead center. The engine is now backfiring through the carby any advice?

Thanks.

I've worked it out the firing order is anti-clockwise - so carby backfire but still no start.

Just checked and the manual says direction of travel clockwise from drive end (which I guess means antclockwise when looking down into dissy)

Suggest you make a mental note of orientation of the dist body and then experiment 10 degrees in each direction, then 20 degrees in each direction. Eventually you should get into the ball park enough to run and do the rest by strobe light. I'd watch for that spitting carby and keep an extinguisher nearby. Nothing beats the panic of seeing flames in your engine bay!

Robert

I got the Excel started wowho I just did what you recommended Robert. Now I have questions about the timing. The manual recommends 16 degrees advance max. My excel is running nicely with 30 degrees advance. What I want to know is are there any problems with this? If I run the car with less advance than this I am having trouble stating it.

Thanks.

I mean they thought mecanical advance 16 °. Why the static advance @ 10 ° your are @ 26 ° total advance. So with 30 ° you are 4 ° over advanced. The risk is pinging, hole in piston and so on... I tuned mine with my "nose" one time cause my strob was @ a friend's home. When it came back I checked it : found 28° total advance. I back to 26 ° : runs better and no trouble starting.
My feeling is that you should back from 4 ° to get 26 ° total advance.

Hi my Excel is running well and at the correct timing now. The problem was the previous owner did not fit the correct coil to the car (an electronic ignition coil is what it needs) so the spark was not big enough. Its running great now - until something else breaks.