The valve timing is set by the cam - while it can be sort of tinkered with a miniscule amount be setting different tappet gaps, it is essentially fixed and is what it is.   As long as you realigned the two gears correctly and didn't offset them at all, it should be pretty much as it was.  Hving said that, by changing the chain you may have affected it a smidge by removing excess slop.

You definitely need to learn how to set the ignition timing !!

Get a decent timing light and rev counter before diving in.

Thanks for all the help.

Now its just playing games with me. Pulled the choke yesterday (its getting a little chilly in Boston now) and it fired right up. 

Confessions: I never gapped the plugs when I put them in. I will
                  I don't know how to do the ignition timing...I spose I shall learn
                  I don't know how to do valve timing...see above
                  

Make a mark on your distrubutor where it is currrently positioned in the motor.  SHarpie works fine, Body of Dist to the bracket. Simply a refrence point.

Slacken the distrubutor bolt a bit so the Distrubutor moves.   Move Dist one way or the other= just a bit. Just past your mark...

Try engine.

It could go either way = Harder to start= or Easier.... This is confirming your timing is off.  and the hard start is because its probably too much ON TIME now..(advanced_ and it . needs some retarding of the timing.

Your reference mark will be there to always take you back to where you started.if needed.

Everything, spark plug gap, points gap (if fitted), valve clearances, cam timing, and lastly the carb.

Thanks.

Got it with the gas pedal.


And by "everything" you mean cam and ignition timing?

Realistically you need to check and reset everything. Pumping the gas pedal does nothing but open the butterfly if you have an SU carb, they do not have an accelerator pump.

Thanks, Dan.

Actually, the choke doesn't seem to affect the starting after it's been sitting. The only way to get it going is to pump the gas.

I replaced the chain because the tensioner went. 

Assuming you changed the chain because it was worn and stretched and that you did set the cam timing correctly, the valve timing will be a bit different than before because you took out some slack. Because it is performing better, it probably needs carb tuning and the ignition timing re-set. Needing choke to restart after sitting 1/2 hour or more suggests that to me.

Hi folks,

86' Saloon. 998 A+

Did the timing chain. As certain as I can be that the timing was not changed. The car runs beautifully now. The car started in a half a second (with choke) prior to the chain. Car started FINE after doing the chain. After a long drive, and now after every subsequent cold start, its fighting me. Does not stall after its going, just fights the cold start. Air temp around Boston is 60, so that's good. It just seems to not be getting any fuel for start up. If I run it for 30 minutes, shut it down, run in the store and come back out, it fires right up. Leave it for an hour or so...hosed. 

I don't know much, but I'm willing to look like an idiot to learn. Any help is appreciated. 

Thanks!