33 engine noise
 

Over the last year or so our 33(99a engine) has had this harmonic type noise creep in, mostly on acceleration or power on,
I looked back through the log book for the 33 and see that it was more than likely traced back to one or two distributors.
I had tried lots and always thought (rightly so) that it was related to timing.I even made up a list with the 68 advance in ,it seemed way better but lost a lot of power I thought, and the ford engineers new more than me, thats why they used the 11a adv.
Yesterday we went for a long drive(150 miles) and before we left, I manually set the static timing on the engine @4 deg,( I usually use a timing light.)
So on the way out of town it pinged up the hill so at the servo I screwed the vac brake half way back in and from then on the noise is just about non existent,and quiet in the cab.
All the times before when I tried to fix this noise I always thought it was too much advance and retarded the timing and vac brake together, it never got rid of it.
So looks like the timing needs the 4 deg and the vac adjusted the curve to suit our 91 oct fuel.
I must be getting stupid ,if I just read my ford books that was what they say to do.
The 33 is back being a pleasure to drive
I have written a detailed note on this and put it in my files so when my boys have the 33 in 20 yrs they will know how to fix stuff.
Lawrie

Re: 33 engine noise
 

Very informative. Thanks for posting.

Re: 33 engine noise
 

So today I made up a little tester to set the timing staticky.
I put a 9v battery in and a pizza buzzer and light,
so now its very easy to do.
Lawrie

Re: 33 engine noise
 

Re: 33 engine noise
 

Lawrie, To set timing statically, you must have timing mark indicating TDC, right? Then, as per service bulletin, from full retard position of dist, move plate up until spark occurs. Take note of graduations, then move plate up one more division. This means spark occurs 4* BTDC.

I think that's what you're getting at?
Dunno about your magic box?
Thing is, with distributor timed as described above, as soon as engine fires, timing is automatically advanced further than the 4* through the effect of centrifigal force acting on the advance weights. How much? How do you set that with the timing light you mentioned?
Sorry man, I'm a bit thick about ignition timing. Can you elaborate more in simple terms please?

Re: 33 engine noise
 

We used to use a device just like that when timing snowmobile engines back in the seventies. It always seemed to work fine. I think I still have mine, and it, too, had both a buzzer and a light. I never thought about using it on a car, but when I think about it, it ain't a bad idea.:)

Re: 33 engine noise
 

Brian, the mechanical advance does,nt start until 400 eng rpm,
All my engines have a tic marked on the pulley and a pointer.
I used to use the timing light and check the timing at 400 rpm, then up to full advance , a pain as I always disconnected the fan belt as it was too dangerous ,
I have the TDC and 4 deg marked on the pulley, I did this when the heads were off .
Tubman,
the device wasn't my idea,I worked at a Yamaha dealer earlier in my life and we used one to set the timing on two stroke dirt bikes.
Lawrie

Re: 33 engine noise
 

Of course, in those days, any snowmobile worth having was a 2-cycle.