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[chris]

I usually just time the thing with the static method at about 10 degrees BTDC. I have a miss that I've been dealing with lately, so I thought I'd throw the timing light at it. Well, I disconnected the advance and retard  and at 800 RPM after setting it statically at 10 degrees before, the timing light reads the same. Was thinking it would read the 4 degrees ATDC. Guess not. Any thoughts on that? Got rid of the miss almost completely this morning with a freshly filed set of points, but within 60 miles or so there it was again. Got a box full of used points, seems like they get replaced every couple thousand miles. Time to go electronic maybe. 

[TR3driver]

The 4 ATDC figure only applies with the vacuum retard connected and working.  With the retard disconnected, then 10 BTDC is about right.  In other words, the retard is what causes the timing at idle to move to 4 ATDC.

Are you sure the coil is correct for your car, and is good?  Using a coil that requires a ballast resistor, without having the ballast, will overheat and damage the points in short order.

Is it always the same cylinder that starts missing?  If so, likely there is a problem with that cylinder, or with the plug wire for it.  One good test is to measure the resistance of the plug wires, from each plug terminal all the way to the post inside the cap.  The exact resistance isn't so important, but they should all be similar.  If one is much higher than the others, it is probably bad.

FWIW, my recent round of ignition troubles seem to have been caused by coil failure, even though the Lucas Sports coil is only a few years old.  Changing points and condenser appeared to improve things, but the engine still misfired badly once it warmed up.  Installing the coil (and ballast) from one of the Stags improved it a great deal, but it's still hard to start : Apparently the plugs are now glazed from the various ignition problems, so I'm hoping that new plugs will be the final step.

[chris]

that's what I have in there is the non-ballasted sports coil from Moss. Has maybe 20-25k on it.  I'll check the resistance on those wires and throw my spare coil on this weekend when I get a chance. That's just what it did, ran great till it got hot. don't think the 43 year old retard still works. makes no difference weather it's hooked up or not. thanks

[chris]

    yup tr3driver....that's all it was. had 2 wires with infinite resistance. no more misses.