Wayne,
I'm sure there's a thread lurking around somewhere on the List regarding
whether it's necessary to use high octane fuel with TR motors but, in your
case, consider what you've observed......your engine "started with high
octane fuel and ran fine". I think you'll fine that most owners of these cars
use high octane fuel because the cars perform better and achieve better fuel
economy. Not wanting to get into a discussion on compression ratio and
octane/pinging relationships, back in the 60's, we used high octane fuel
because we were advised that the cars required it and, indeed, they ran better
with it. With today's pump fuel octane levels "not what they used to be",
using higher octane fuel is an even better choice.
So, the simple answer to this portion of your post is to refill your tank
with high octane (93) and tune to it rather than trying to dial-in your
motor to 87 or 89 octane.
My advice is to go with 93 octane and adjust your timing and carbs to that
fuel. As far as agonizing over trying to get a textbook timing reading,
forget it! Anytime you do modifications to the engine, the timing setting
offered in the service manual is a good place to start but the final timing
setting is where the engine performs strongly without pinging under
load.....
Chip Krout
Delaware Valley Triumphs, Ltd.
Skippack, PA
1976 TR6 CF57822U
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