B6 Timing

[stefan]

What is the procedure for setting the timing on a 90+ B6? Do I line up the notch on the scale.. or with the pointer on the cover two inches back from the scale.
Also, what do I set it to, haynes says 6-8... I've read 10 on here

[Safety Guy]

Are you using a Haynes Festiva manual or a Haynes or Chilton for Mazda 323s? It may make a difference, but I don't know. I haven't done it yet.

Karl

[Festy46]

Depending on which crankshaft you have, turn the crankshaft pulley until either the pin hole (big nose) or the keyway notch (small nose) is at the 12 o'clock position. Look at the picture below to determine which crankshaft you have. Once you have the pulley at the 12 o'clock position look where the notch on the edge of the pulley is in relation to the timing scale. This will be your TDC. You may be off by a couple of degrees from just "eyeballing" the 12 o'clock position. I would set the timing 10 degrees advanced for a little better performance, but listen for any pinging on a hard pull like going up a long hill. If it pings, you'll have to back off the timing a little or use higher octane gas.

[skeeters_keeper]

i had similar questions when i did mine, i think the answer is in the b6 writeup i did, have you looked through that at all?

on the later models your supposed to line it up with the rear "finger", i didn't like that, so i set it to TDC manually and made a mark with whiteout by the timing scale and then set that to 10-12* btdc. I run 87 octane most of the time fine with it around 10*, every now and then i pick up a tank of mid grade, no real difference though. I think on mid grade i could run 13-14* btdc (some guys on the 323 forum have said they run 16+* on premium fine), but i'd rather stick with the cheaper gas.

[stefan]

The 323 haynes manual says to use the scale. The Ford manual for the 1.3 says to use the pointer. Right now the mark is flashing on the scale when I check it... Around 8° I think. I hope Its supposed to be on the pointer and that its out that far... because so far im not very impressed with it. Really bad low end.