I recently had a look over the ignition system and fuel system on the SC and whilst checking the timing with the strobe found the timing was out by about 4deg. so I adjusted the distributor accordingly and it was this point the can of worms well and truly opened. I could not get the car to idle at the correct speed or anything less than 1000rpm (suffered extreme vibration), whilst adjusting the tickover I was using the throttle at the carb end to keep it going and realised every time I revved the car the rev's settled at a different rate every time. Every time I took the revs down to approx 700rpm the engine was shaking very badly and threatening to stop altogether. after a little fiddle with the mixture got it to run at 750rpm, revved it then it wouldn't idle then after no adjustment and another rev it was sitting at 1000rpm again. checked the timing with the strobe and it was still on the money when running at 700-750rpm but running erratically. I've adjusted the choke correctly and I've checked all the obvious things and changed leads plugs and I have a pertronix so no points or condenser to change and everything that end seems fine. I had the distributor apart to check the advance weights were moving freely and realised that there is some play in the shaft that runs through the distributor, I'm presuming this is not normal on an SC? I know a worn drive could cause erratic running as the slack in the drive varies each time the revs increase and decrease but surely that would show up on the strobe? Would anybody be able to share their experience here and prevent the inevitable John Cleese branch sketch happening on my driveway?
Thanks all.
Thanks all.