my mechanic, and others i know, tell me to move the distributor clockwise?
think that's right . . . until it runs badly. then back it off a bit. or
you can edge it forward a little at a time, see how it is, edge it some
more. remember this is not a fresh from the factory perfect engine. it has
some wear, and some modifications. the engine will run hotter with an
advance, and the idle will be higher as well. since you obviously had some
adjustment issues before, just back off the idle screws a few flats, being
sure to do them both the same. you will also have to run the engine a bit
each time for the changes to take effect. slow, careful, and
document/remember what you do each time so you don't end up back at your
mechanics door begging him to undo your mistakes again . . .
its how we all learn . . .
----- Original Message -----
From: <SamuelsMA@aol.com>
To: <6pack@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:06 PM
Subject: ignition timing
> Listers:
>
> After all the rough-running problems related to carburetion that I was
> experiencing a couple of weeks ago, I finally gave up and took the '76
into a good
> mechanic. I got it back today, running and accelerating smoothly. I
didn't
> get a really good explanation as to what was wrong with the carburetor
> settings, except that he adjusted and balanced both carbs and the
> bucking/backfiring went away.
>
> Anyway, the point of this post is that he noticed that the timing was set
on
> the car, presumably by the P.O., at 14 degrees BTDC. This is a heavily
> modified motor with high compression, aggressive cam, headers, lightened
> flywheel, etc. The mechanic set the timing to spec, which is 4 degress
ATDC
> according to a sticker on the underside of the hood. Although the car is
smooth, it
> feels noticeably weaker to me than it did before the timing change (and
> before the carbs got screwed up). It just has a "sluggish" feel. The
car did not
> "ping" or detonate before on premium fuel with the advanced timing.
>
> Should I advance the timing in steps to see what happens? As long as I
> don't hear detonation, is there any problem with doing so? What timing
settings
> would be expected for optimal performance on 93 octane fuel with a motor
like
> mine?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Michael
> '76 Tahiti blue
> CF 57044U
|