Which timing method is better?

[volkenstein]

  . Good pickup Evan! I'm thinking that is more the point gap..one hopes .

Regards
Sean

[68autobug]

I go with timing at maximum advance..
with a Bright Xenon timing lamp...

Both mine have two leads for Power + & - ground
plus a connector which slides over the number one spark plug lead..
[has to go the correct way too]

Be careful of this spark plug lead connector as if it falls and hits concrete
it can break internally and No Longer work....
I stress this to My sons when loaning it....

cheers

LEE

[bowlingbrad]

I only hope this measurement is in MM not inches!

OK, you caught me.
I made a typo, not a real mistake (thankfully).
Valves were set to .006
Points were set to .016

Thanks for the clarification!

(I have edited my previous post to fix the typo)

[bruce_childress]

Now this is getting interesting....
I bought my SVDA from John at Aircooled and as I recall I was directed to download instructions from their website. I have those instructions in front of me now as I type this. I was off a bit on the rpm but the instructions clearly say:

"To verify the corrct operation of the SVDA, the timing should be
A) 28-30 Total Advance (hose disconneced) @3500 RPM.
B) 38-45 Total Advance (hose connected) @3500 RPM."

I was off a bit on the rpm but that is a quote from the instructions.
They then state in their instructions:

"Let it idle and re-check the timing, you can now use this timing setting to set the timing at idle, though we do recommend you check the full advance settings to make sure the SVDA is working properly at both idle and full advance."

I bought my SVDA about a year or so ago and was very very happy with it. I am not trying to make this into a big discussion, I just wondered if the 3500rpm max advance timing method was the better way to go.

Yes they initially say to time at 7.5*btdc at idle, then they recommend the above procedure to verify timing.

yep, I bought  a svda from john at aircooled.net
got the same email with the above instructions

[68autobug]

Firstly
I don't have an SVDA as yet.. 009 still..
but I set My timing at 32 degrees maximum advance
and the idle came in at 10 degrees...

Car is going as good as it gets at the moment..
but it seems to get very hot in the engine bay...
especially the coil...
so, I fitted a device which replaces the pins in the engine lid hinge
allowing You to have the top of the engine lid open about 2 inches approx..

this device can be taken off in a few minutes...
My Son made one to fit his early beetle [1955 oval]
and he has used 4 VW dipsticks to hold it on
so it takes him about 2 minutes to take the device out...

I have bolts holding Mine on...
One of the locals found a fellow at a swap meet years ago in the US
selling pins that fit the holes perfectly and has a wire clip that fits over the end
so they cannot fall out...  I've never seen these clips that size in Australia...

Our Winter is probably one of the hottest We've ever had...
although it will fall to -1C tonight...
the days are Sunny and over 20C
its supposed to be around 27 this weekend...
I was thinking today, I should be working on My beetle to finish it all off
but the weather is too good to miss driving My beetle... lol

LEE

[bruce_childress]

I go with 30 max advances on my buddies
32 is the limit, but all those little got ya's come into to play

i've always heard 28-32 for the 009, so i figured 30 is safe