AboutJim Expertise My area of specialty is the Triumph Spitfire 1500 (1973-1980) although I have some technical experience with the GT6 and TR6 models also.
I can cover questions on all areas of the Spitfire, from basic mechanical questions to where to find original style seat covers and soft tops.
I am not an expert on the TR2/3/4 models. If you need specific detailed help with these models I first recommend obtaining a good repair manual such as the Robert Bentley manual for your particular model.
Experience I have been a Spitfire owner for 20 years and have done all my own repair work. On the Spitfire I've done just about everything except mount and balance tires.
In addition to street use I have been autocrossing a Spitfire with the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) in Modified class since 1997.
Organizations Red River Triumph Club
SCCA (Sports Car Club of America)
NASS (North American Spitfire Squadron)
FOT (Friends of Triumph)
Question I have a 74 spitfire 1500 that I am finishing up the rebuild on. I had a local machine shop assemble the short block. When I picked the motor up I realized the distributer gear was in 180 degrees from what my shop manual said was the correct position. I rotated the disturber gear to the correct position. I now have the engine back in the car and have realized when trying to set the static timing that the rotor is pointing to the #4 spark plug lead when the notch on the crank is 180 degrees from the recommended timing position. Shouldn’t the rotor be pointing to the #1 plug wire while in this position? Does this mean that my cam is timed 180 off?
Answer Wes,
There is a 2:1 ratio on the Cam to crank gears. So when the crank is at #1 TDC the ignition rotor can be in 1 of two locations, 180 degrees out.
What you need to do is crank the engine over by hand and watch the valve timing to verify TDC for ignition. Keep in mind that the cycle is Intake, compress, igntion downstroke, exhaust.
So when you see the intake open then both valves close the engine is going into the compression stroke. At TDC (plus or minus a few degrees based on the distributor timing) it's time for #1 to fire.
That's where you should align the distributor/plug leads to.
