There are others that can answer the technical side of this question far
better than I, but I can tell you that retard your timing too much will
decrease performance while advancing it will increase performance. I
know that too much retard can harm an engine, and I am sure the opposite
is true (too much advance), but I don't know exactly what the long term
effects would be. I can tell you this though, get a timing light so you
can tell how much you are advancing your timing.
Mike
Jeff McNeal wrote:
>
> I need some guidance from those of you who know what in the heck you're
> doing better than I do. I'm enrolled in the "learn as you go" program.
>
> I've been a bit disappointed with the general lack of performance I've been
> getting out of my high compression 1296 engine. I was out doing a little
> fiddling around in the garage today and decided to lube the distributor,
> check the air cleaner on the Weber DGV and see what's what.
>
> I discovered that by turning the advance/retard knob attached to the
> distributor shaft, I could either really mess up -- or greatly enhance (!)
> my performance. I'm assuming that turning the adjuster advances and counter
> clockwise retards, but I'm really not sure what all this means or what is
> going on exactly -- and I'd like to.
>
> The car seemed to be idling smoother with the knob turned fully clockwise
> (it had been about 5 clicks down from the top). In taking Mrs. Jones for a
> spin around the neighborhood, I perceived what I'm guessing to be about a
> 20% increase in performance!
>
> Is having this knob advanced all the way going to adversely effect my engine
> in the long run? Can someone please explain to me on layman's terms what I
> have just done?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Jeff in San Diego
>
> '67 RHD Spitfire Mk3 aka "Mrs. Jones"
> Jeff's Classic '67 Spitfire Mk3 site
> http://www.ohms.com/spitfire/spitfire.shtml
> home of the NEW Totally Triumph Auction
> "By Triumph enthusiasts, for Triumph enthusiasts"
> http://www.ohms.com/cgi-bin/TRauction.cgi
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
|