Timing with a stroboscopic light...

[Jacques]

Hello

My car is an Elan S4/SE born in 1968

For the timing, I rean I need to know:

1/ the "distributor serie number"; but where can find this ?

2/ As this car has Weber 40 OCDE 18 carburetters, I need to know wether My Elan has "A" type pistons or "C" type pistons: (so that the BTDC is 10 or 12?)

Thank you to help me +++

Jacques

[rgh0]

Hi Jacques

The distributor advance curve number should be stamped on the side of the distributor body.

I would not worry to much about the static timing difference of 2 degrees between 10 or 12 as you probably dont have original pistons and fuels have changed so much since 1968 anyhow.

I would set the timing to around 12 degrees static and then measure the advance curve you have using the timing light to see how it compares with the timing quoted in the manual for the various advance curves - Note Lotus made some errors on the timing curves in some of the manual versions so be careful before concluding what you have is wrong.

cheers
Rohan

[Galwaylotus]

Here's where to find the distributor number.

[2cams70]

If you really want to know what type of pistons you have I'd highly recommend one of these looking through the spark plug hole. They are available quite cheaply these days. It can be a double edged sword though - you may see some things you wish you had not!

[Jacques]

Thank you, Rohan.

I dive in the motor tomorrow morning.

Cheers

Jacques.