Re: '60 Giulietta Spyder distributor/set -up question.

[Simon Favre <simon@domain.elided>]

It's actually pretty simple. This is one of the simplest cars to work
on, not counting the valve clearance adjustment ordeal.

What you do first is set the engine at TDC of the firing stroke for #1.
If you have the cam cover off, this is when the #1 cam lobes are 
pointing outwards, and #1 is at TDC. I've seen people find TDC with a
pencil in the spark plug hole. You should use a dial gauge to calibrate
the pointer on the timing cover, but that's not needed just to put the
disty back in. Line up the motor using the cam marks, or the mark on
the crank pulley. (I think it's the 'P' mark.)

If you don't have the cam cover off, here's another way to determine 
where TDC of #1's firing stroke is. Rotate the motor by the crank 
pulley (it rotates clockwise from the front). Look in the spark plug
hole for #1. The sequence is: Exhaust valve, intake valve, then the 
next TDC you come to is the right one.

Once you're at TDC, the uppermost part of the oil pump shaft visible
in the disty mounting hole should be pointing sideways across the car
according to the standard pictures in EVERY shop manual ever published
for these cars. The offset drive on the disty is supposed to line up
with this. If it is lined up correctly, and the disty was assembled
correctly, when you install the disty, the rotor will point outwards
toward the fender. The position on the cap this corresponds to is #1.
The firing order is 1-3-4-2. The center cap wire goes to the coil HT
lead. The small wire on the disty goes to the - lead on the coil. The
line from the ignition switch goes to the +. A Bosch Blue coil works
well. A good wiring diagram will have terminal numbers, too.

If your oil pump is not in the standard position, and/or your disty
doesn't line up, not to worry. Just insert the disty making sure the
drive is not 180 degrees out, which can cause damage. Whichever 
position the rotor ends up in, that wire is #1. The disty rotates 
clockwise, so just hook up the other wires in the firing order, 
1-3-4-2. Easy. If it backfires out the carbs, you probably have it
180 degrees out.

You can static time the car with a 12V continuity tester (AKA bulb on
a wire). Connect one end to ground, and the other to the coil -. Set
the motor at the static timing mark (F) and turn on the ignition.
Rotate the disty until the light just comes on. Make sure you rotate
the disty rotor backwards first to take up any slack. You should also
set the point gap first. After the car is running, you can check the
dwell, and use a timing light to set the max advance to the M mark.

Good luck,

Simon

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