Ignition timing - initial setup problems.

[misterforager]

The problem is solved - and I feel really stupid! Explanation is this:

1- I bought a low mileage Japanse import engine/T50 box (vintage 1985, 3-rib blue top) in 1990. The loom was cut in many places.
2 - Bought loads of bits from Roger Moran and (the sadly, late Rex Paddock) e.g. loom, coil, ignitor, ECU and clutch bits - all UK spec parts. These guys were terrific and the parts were exact for a UK AE86.
2 - Project was shelved for many years.
3 - Built new loom and all checked out ok.
4 - The dizzy has 3 wires to relay the loom signals back to the ECU. These are White, Red and Blue. On this Japanese dizzy, the white is common to both pick-up coils (G-) with the Ne and G1 signals being on the red and blue.

I foolishly assumed that dizzy red matched to (UK loom) red, white to white, and blue to black.

Not so! The dizzy common white should be connected to ECU red, the dizzy blue to ECU white, blah blah blah.

The poor ECU had no chance of working out the initial timing point (under cranking) 'cos it was not getting the correct relationship between the Ne and G1 signals, DOH!

I got some really useful diagrams and knowledge form this link and I am grateful for the insight into Denso/Toyota signals and nomenclature.

http://www.autoshop101.com/autoshop15.html

Spark is now spot-on and no excuses now for getting petrol primed up and ready to run.

Hope some of this is useful.