Hi guys im having problems with my ute,when i start it it wont rev for a while then all off a sudden it revs,also its back firing throught the carby and even lit up today like a top fuel dragster.Also while driving its retarded then it will jump like its got a turbo on it and then off it goes.What do u guys think are the problems and yes i know im going to have to spend some money on it at some stage.

Fuel pump

for it to ignite out the carby id say ignition is firing way to early,could be anything but an a series is very simple, go through the basics

yea it sounds like ignition is retarded so probably a dizzy problem. or maybe cam shaft is running out of place. i would start with advancing the dizzy and even consider changing leads and plugs before you start pulling the motor to bits.

WARNING -- it already caught fire once

Before you advance the distributor find out where it is at now. Check your timing marks. Do not advance if the timing is correct.

The distributor mechanical advance may be loose. Pull the cap and see if you can turn the rotor back and forth with two fingers. It should only move a little.

Too far advanced: Hard to start, resists the battery. But idles well and pull hard, but won't rev very high

Too far retarded: poor power, backfires, runs hot

i got the same dilemma, i dunno why I even opened and tried to adjust the gap points in the first place.

anyway, on my A12, since I'm too broke to buy a strobe light, how do I know if I'm advancing? Is it turning the distributor counter-clockwise?

Easy. Turn the engine until the timing marks line up.

There is a vertical line on the timing cover, turn the pulley until it is between 5 to 10. Any A-series engine will run good at this setting.

(leave it there. Do not try to advance or retard it)

Next, ensure the distributor is rotated correctly.

1. Pull cap off distributor. Is the rotor pointing at the Number 1 spark plug wire? Good. If it is pointing at #4, rotate the engine one more turn until the marks line up again

2. pull coil wire from cap. Lay atop the engine or strut tower, with the metal lead 1/4 inch from bare metal

3. turn engine to IGN (do not start it). Distributor cap is removed

4. Loosen the distributor hold down bolt slightly. Be careful not to rotate the distributor.

5. Rotate distributor housing clockwise slightly until points appear closed

6. Rotate housing anti-clockwise -- slowly -- until a spark appears at the coil wire, This occurs when the lobe forces the points open.

7. Tighten distributor hold-down bolt. You are done.


This method is just as accurate as a timing light if done carefully.

If you cannot borrow a dwell meter, then guess at the points gap. You must be able to see some gap when it is "on the cam" (resting on the lobe). But no more gap than the thickness of a matchbook cover. This method is not very accurate unless the points are new.

hell yeah! can't wait to try that on later this evening when I get back from work, thanks mr.ddgonzal!