Itinerant Air-Cooled

70 Ghia: not getting any ignition timing advance..
...checked the can with hand pump vac. and it holds 5, 10 psi steady..no leaks
...blew out the metal vac line- its clear
..stuck vac gauge on the port..and im getting 0 when i open the throttle

basically engine just bogs heavily when throttle blipped...so is this cause or effect of the lack of timing? something else at play ?

Can you suck or blow orally though the advance nipple on the carb with the engine off? Use a length of vacuum hose so your lips don't get stuck in the throttle mechanism. :)

If you suck on the distributor dance nipple (again, hose,) with the engine idling, you should hear an increase in speed. Do you, when you?

Robbie

dingo wrote:70 Ghia: not getting any ignition timing advance..
...checked the can with hand pump vac. and it holds 5, 10 psi steady..no leaks
...blew out the metal vac line- its clear
..stuck vac gauge on the port..and im getting 0 when i open the throttle

basically engine just bogs heavily when throttle blipped...so is this cause or effect of the lack of timing? something else at play ?

Shocked, I am, to find dingo not supplying the necessary information to help us provide an accurate answer.

1970 Ghia 1600? Singleport? Vacuum only? What carburetor (the Pict #)?

Guessing here, but if it is a vacuum only distributor and a Solex 30 Pict 3 carburetor, I would start my search by checking the carburetor's vacuum passages and the gaskets for correct indexing. There's little holes and stuff that need a clear shot into the venturi as the throttle plate opens.
Colin

yesy, yes..all original stock..1600, sp, vac only, pict30.....

brief history...this engine had low comp.and barely ruinning,but running. Owner had limited funding, so i just went with new rings and some decent 'ok' heads. Endplay and rodplay was 'ok'...yeah it was a bitt of a gamble, but it wasnt a battered engine. Its been 1 or 2 hundred miles and 1 oil change. ..so its possible compression has gone awry. I guess ill test comp again...

Those vacuum can's don't take much pressure to pull the advance plate. How's the distributor? Any chance the advance plate is stuck? It's quite common in those 45 YO 205K or 205T distributors that haven't been disassembled, cleaned and re-lubed.

I'd check that then pull the carb apart to make sure there are no issues like Colin mentioned and the accelerator pump is working. Yank the carb off the engine. Pull the top of the carb off. It should still have gas in the fuel bowl. Pull the throttle and see if you're getting a good stream through the brass nozzle down the throat of the carb.

Compression: 110,120,120,120 so thats all good

plugs: 1,2 are dark/rich 3,4 are quite good color

vac advance plate moves smoothly from 0-7 psi (on hand pump)

lunch

Bizarre ending to the saga: removed the carb and found what looked like a giant furball in the throat of the carb...causing throttle plate to not close, and blocking the vacuum ports. that explained both symptoms of no vac advance and weird throittle cable activity. Dont know what the hell it was..mouse nest? fabric ? must have escaped my inspection of oil-bath cleaner when i refilled it
Anyways, i chased this one down many phantom avenues...haha..and fortunately it was an easy fix

dingo wrote: fur ball blocking the vacuum ports.

SEE?
Colin

dingo wrote: a giant furball in the throat of the carb

Ya might want to have a word with that adorable dog in your avatar photo.

Dont know what the hell it was..mouse nest? fabric ? must have escaped my inspection of oil-bath cleaner when i refilled it

Could it maybe be some of the coir (coconut husk, aka. "horsehair") from inside your oil-bath air filter?