Alfa Pages

[Brit01]

Purchased a really nice NOS vintage MSD 6A ignition module.
A new SS Blaster coil is on it's way (currently this part is stuck in a 1 month postal strike pile!!!!).

Anyway the module works just fine with my Bosch coil for now.

Just got to find a suitable place to mount it and wire it up permanently.



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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[Bobkelso]

Hi Brit
Nice design, perfect for a more than 20 years old car..
and I'm really curious about how car run with it.
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Alfa 33

[Brit01]

curious me too, was about to install it at work then I got blocked carbs this week so car is sitting in the garage unable to start!!

Also one of the cv boots if leaking grease. another thing to fix quickly.

Hopefully get the new pump on tonight to get the car to work tomorrow.
Then lunch break I'll install the MSD this or next week.
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[Brit01]

All wired up in 30 minutes! Very neatly.

Started up and idled really nicely. I noticed more water and less smoke was coming from the exhaust which is a good sign of clean combustion.
The note of the engine sounded crisper and responded very very well to blips on the throttle.

Haven't tested it on the road yet but that will happen later today.
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[Brit01]

still running fine after 4 days of testing. Nothing melted or exploded!.

But i think my 60 idle jets are a bit on the rich side.
Got black soot shooting out of my tailpipe!!

I will go back down to 55's.

I hope the stronger spark from the MSD will help the hesitation I had with the leaner jets.
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[BigAl]

What's the bet that you will end up with standard jets, now fueling is normal?
Mind you you have better filtering
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

[Brit01]

BigAl,

You may well be right. Now I have a good powerful fuel pump and strong spark. Won't have any issues with floats dropping too low etc

mmm...what idles shall I try first??

Maybe the 55's.

Dellorto always said the 52's were on the lean side for emission tests.
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[Brit01]

[BigAl]

Out of interest, what do you use to balance your carbs? I used to try by ear and a listening tube, but I never got the knack, so I used to get them tuned.
I use a Synchrometer now on my TB's
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

[Brit01]

[BigAl]

That does sound fiddly lol, have you tried with a listening tube?
or
Gunson carburetor balancing kit
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

[Brit01]

Thought about the Gunson yes but same principle really, connect all the tubes and you need the dampers also I believe.

But all four at the same time yes would be more useful.
But the synchronizer you have you need to go back and forth no?

When you adjust one it can alter another.

Even if you have all 4 in sync you still need the get the mixture right, that can only be done by listening and fiddling with the mixture screws.
(unless you have 4 colourtune plugs)

Either way still takes practice and patience.
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[BigAl]

yup one at a time, but it's no biggy with TB's, do both on left, then match other side to the same.
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

[Brit01]

Anti-theft switch installed! :cheese:

Anyone who tries to start the engine will have no spark (secret switch hidden)!! And they'll never know what's wrong as MSD is not known here. :cheese:
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[Brit01]

I'm surprised but I think the MSD has affected the timing somewhat.

I need to retard it more. Hesitates to crank on the first turning of the key.
Pings a little under very hard acceleration still.
Timing at 4500 rpm is on the mark at 34 degrees but TDC is just about less than 7 degrees.

More retard I guess.

Oil temps stable but water tends to heat up quickly when idling after a long run at higher speeds.
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[Brit01]

Thinking now that maybe the new K&N style filters could be causing the detonation.

These are going to allow more air in.
Under WOT could the mains be too lean? (currently 145 mains).

Does anyone else run these filters and what jets do you use?

Otherwise I need to do some swapping around, comparing the set ups.
Filters on/off, MSD on/off.

Where will I find more time away from the misses?
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[Brit01]

Anyway I gave a good suirt of wd40 and some oil around the shaft to drip down and some down the sides to reach the weights(hopefully).
Rotor springs feel ok.
Sucked on the vacuum while idling and it did move. Not much but some. (How much should it move? Maybe it's weak)

Plugs were a light brown. changed to 9 plugs.
Advanced it to almost 8 degrees. tested it at full revs and it didn't exceed the 34 degrees.

had a spin around and did't hear ant pinging. Was a tiny bit lumpy, bit lean I think on the idles but I only have 55's and 60s. 60's were too rich. Think I need to buy some 57's or 58's from Italy or Dellorto UK.
idled cooler though .

but it needs a good hard drive to test fully.

There is a circlip around the top of the shaft. If I remove this will the top timing plate come off and then I'm able to access the weights/springs?
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[Brit01]

Nope still getting detonation!!!

Plugs showed no signs of lean mixtures.

I will disconnect the unit and compare it with stock ignition next.

Maybe the timing is out on the MSD or it's not working well with the stock coil or something.

Could of course be the dizzy weights/springs but this is a process of elimination so one thing at a time.
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[Brit01]

Ok further testing done.

1) original airbox on and stock ignition - smooth progression and no pinging
2) original airbox on and MSD running - hesitation between 2-3000 rpm and a small amount of pinging under fast acceleration. But smoother idling and more power despite the hesitation.

MSD have already told me more than once the 6A will cause a lean condition and is the most likely cause of the pinging.

So a slightly larger idle jet maybe needed.
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[Brit01]

BP8ES plugs put in.
Projected plugs may help avoid the small amount of detonation I'm experiencing as suggested by my local mechanic.
He tested it, inspected the dizzy and said everything was spot on and the detonation was so very slight.
The P plugs may well just clear this.

Gap extended to 1.1mm. Felt good but didn't have enough time to test it fully.

Also suggested by a member on alfaowner was to add a specific amount of acetone to the fuel to improve it's quality
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

[Bobkelso]

Hi Brit, just about..someone says that varying the plug gap
also the ignition timing can vary a little (more gap=more retard)
but I don't know if the effect is considerable or very small,
expecially with your upgraded ignition module,
so probably a new check of the timing isn't necessary..

Ps.: this man thinks nitroglycerin pills
are the solution for a better fuel quality ''

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW61Qiko4sg
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Alfa 33

[mg907]

I've heard that projected electrode plugs like BP8ES should not be used because their spark is too close to the cylinder top surface.
Is it definitely true?
I'm currently using BR8ES, they work really fine both with gasoline and LPG.

Mario

[Brit01]

[mg907]

Hi Brit,
an octane number list follows (basic font wikipedia):

hexadecane < -30
n-octane -10
n-heptane 0
diesel 15–25
2-metileptano 23
n-hexane 25
2-metylhexane 44
Hydrogen 130
n-heptane 60
n-penthane 62
1-pentene 84
1-butanole 87 ---> can be produced from biomass
n-butane 91 ---> LPG component
cyclohexane 97
E10 98 ---> 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline
isooctane 100
benzene 101
propane 103 ---> LPG component
E85 105 ---> 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline
CNG 107
LPG 108
heptane 108
methanol 113
toluene 114 ---> component of lacquer thinner
ethanol 116 ---> ethylic alcohol
xylene 117 ---> component of lacquer thinner

I do not know if acetone can rise the octane number and or if it could get the pollution level worse.
But just a question. Isn't the E10 fuel available in your country? In many places, such as Brazil, Argentina as well in
some European countries you can find it.
I think it could resolve your pinging problems.
I have to say that may 33 pings a little when accelerating in 4 or 5 gear, but it does so only when running with gasoline,
with LPG that has an higher octane ratio the ping disappear at all.

Mario

[Brit01]