When ppl say 180 out or "retarded" what is meant by that.

My dizzy's wires are as such(pic). just wanted to make sure it's on right as im having some weird issues.

3-4
1-2

 

the wires are in the right spot. im pretty sure... id have to check however the drive slot can be spun 180 out. aome have a slight offset so it only goes in one way, but ive seen aftermarket cams that will let it go in either way. easiest way is to put cyl 1 at tdc and pull the dizzy cap and make sure the rotor is pointing to cyl 1

 

btw 180 out means that its 180 degrees off of where its supposed to be. ie pointing the exact opposite way.

 

^ok thanks still wondering by what some mean by retarding/retareded

 

The drive CANNOT be rotated 180 out. Trust me, I tried it. The slot is actually keyed in such a way that if you do manage to wedge it 180 out, it won't fit right, and if you don't use all 3 screws (like I do cause that bottom back screw is a bitch) the distributor will wobble around like it's bent.

You REALLY have to try and force it to make it 180 out. So if it doesn't just fit no problem, then that's 180 out. You won't even be able to get it to sit properly.

if it's correct it'll just go on no problem, no fuss.

 

Just wasn't sure if it was possible to put it in any other way than the one(i've had it 180 once it won't sit flush) i just have the top+side bolt in.

 

It should be
1-2
3-4

 

I don't think so wouldn't the car not start or miss badly if it was that wrong ?

 

firing order is 1342 looking at the dizzy cap, it will turn clockwise. and some aftermarket cam manufacturers, mainly old ones (most dont make honda cams anymore) wouldnt cut the slit in the cam correctly for the offset to work right and it would let you put in 180 out. my old crane cams did and the dizzy bolted up fine, but when i got the engine at tdc the rotor was in the wrong spot. i spun it around and it was fine but one day it stopped running (wasnt gettin spark) i pulled the dizzy and the teeth were completely gone. i ditched the old crane cams and got some comp cams and been using them ever since. i think i got the old dizzy somewhere. i kept it for parts. i just got boxes of parts everywhere. the one in the living room has a gsr intake, some turbo piping a stock fan and shroud, and some other ****. Thats what happens when you move from a house with a 1200 square foot garage to a 990ft appt.

 

Bump: I still want to know what retarding/advancing means in relation to the dizzy. i know you can move it back n forth so to say but what's it do(if anything)

 

Retard=After
Advanced=Before
In relation to TDC

It changes the spark timing. If you advance timing, you're firing off the plugs BEFORE TDC (think of advanced as in early)

if your timing is retarded, it means its firing AFTER top dead center (you can think of retarded as being late)

Make sense?

We advance ignition timing because the mixture in an engine burns, not explodes. Burning takes time, so we start burning the mixture before it's fully compressed. Advance the timing too much, and you cause the mixture to burn too completely before you get to TDC, and you get knock (from the pressure trying to push the engine the wrong way around)

also, if you retard your timing too much, not only will you lose power, your EGT's will shoot up, as the mixture is still burning as it exits the exhaust valves.

 

thanks the cleared it up a lot and you do so by moving it forward or back via the top hole(i just have on bolt in it).

 

Plz put more than one bolt in it. But yes looking at the dizzy counter clockwise is advanced clockwise is retarded.

 

was trying to turn it back n fouth to see what happened that's why the lack of bolts. so is it something you mess with visualy or does a timing light and such come into play with this stuff. I feel like a complete noob asking this lol

 

Yes to timing light no to noob. Your asking intelligent questions and taking advice and understanding its just inexperience not ignorance.

 

And don't forget, you can't properly time a Bseries without jumping the service plug first! otherwise anything you do will be pointless as the computer is constantly adjusting the timing on its own!

passanger kick panel will have 2 plugs. The smaller plug is your check engine code plug, the slightly wider one (2 wires, but with an empty middle pin) is for timing adjustment. Jump the wires to put it into service mode, then you can adjust the timing using a timing light.

 

Lol I didn't know that. See no one know everything. Seriously I didn't know that. I was wondering why it was all over the place.