MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Timing and dwell

Ready to tune up the V8, what should be the timing spec and the dwell? Engine is a Buick 215.
Thanks.
Jake

Jake, it depends on the cam and how the engine is built. If you have a performance cam, start with 16 BTDC, if stock, try 12. Dwell specs are 28-32 degrees, according to my old Chiltons manuals.
Jeff Schlemmer

Remember to set your dwell angle first as it will affect timing.
Bill Young

Is the only way to set dwell with a dwell meter? The engine has a mild erson cam ground 4 degrees advanced.
Jake

The only way to check the 'dwell angle' that I know of is to use a dwell meter. Most point type systems will list both a dwell angle and point gap in the tune up specs. If you don't have a dwell meter, then set the gap using a feeler gauge to the spec and the dwell angle should be right on.
Bill Young

Try setting the point gap toward the wider end of the gap range. If I were you, I'd shop Ebay for a dwell meter. You can pick up and old one for under $20.

Your dwell is adjusted by adjusting the points. The dwell meter just allows you to fine tune the adjustment. You will find that setting the points with a feeler gauge will give you a dwell that is usually off the mark, sometimes substantially.
Jeff Schlemmer

While we're at it, does anyone have the dwell, timing and plug gap specs for a HO Olds 215-stock cam and heads?

Allan
Allan

The specs I have are a little on the "generic" side and specify all buicl V8s, but it says 5-7.5 BTDC and 28-32 degrees dwell. Typically you can push the advance a little, as I would expect the HO would be higher than 7 degrees.
Jeff Schlemmer

This thread was discussed between 11/09/2005 and 13/09/2005

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical BBS now