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Timing for a 12V/587Z 1275

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Timing for a 12V/587Z 1275 #1
Midgies Dad Ben M York, ME, USA Sign in to contact 1959 Austin A40 Farina 1960 Austin A40 Farina 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite 1969 MG Midget "Midgie"	Topic Creator (OP) Aug 16, 2017 03:14 PM Joined 11 years ago 1,125 Posts

My '69 Midget has a later low compression 12V/587Z engine. Recently I decided to check the timing. I found timing specs in the front of the Bentley manual, and ended up with 13 degrees BTDC at 1,000 rpm with a strobe light, and the vacuum advance disconnected and plugged at the carb. The timing was between 15 and 20 so I took it down to 13, but then the car seemed less peppy than before, and noise from the engine compartment is greater going uphill (hopefully not pinging -- can't tell with wind noise and exhaust noise). Going back to the manual, I found that those specs were for the 12CE and 12CD engines; in the appendix in the back of the manual I found that specs for the lower compression 12V engines are 9 BTDC at 1,500 rpm. The engine now has no air pump or air injection rail, injection ports plugged, K&N air filters and a 3 into 1 header. So I wonder if now the earlier or later specs should apply?

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Re: Timing for a 12V/587Z 1275 #2
refisk Rick Fisk Frankenmuth, MI, USA Sign in to contact	Aug 16, 2017 03:20 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 14,653 Posts

Set the timing where it runs best and don't worry about the specs. thumbs up

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Re: Timing for a 12V/587Z 1275 #3
66jalopy Phillip Jolliffe Lake City, FL, USA Sign in to contact 1956 Morris Minor	Aug 16, 2017 04:10 PM Joined 11 years ago 6,727 Posts

X2, find it's sweet spot, don't worry about the timing light

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Timing for a 12V/587Z 1275

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