I'm going to disagree with you on the retard part. Why then if I set my
timing to 2 ATDC without the vacuum line connected, and then reconnect
it (I've done this with the timing light on) does my timing jump to 10
BTDC? Sounds more like an advance than a retard unit.
BTW: This car does not have the electronic ignition on it, Removed by
PO.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Barry Schwartz [SMTP:bschwart@pacbell.net]
> Sent: Friday, August 14, 1998 9:25 AM
> To: trunnell@mindspring.com
> Cc: triumphs@Autox.Team.Net; spitfires@Autox.Team.Net
> Subject: Re: spitfire ignition timing
>
> >The manual and the sticker say that the timing should be set
> >at 2 degrees ATDC. My car will run when set to this but runs much
> better
> >when the timing is set to about 8-10 degrees BTDC. Is this just an
> >emissions lowering trick or is there so much advance (centrifugal and
> >vacuum) in the distributor that it is really necessary to retard the
> timing
> >this much?
> *******************************
> Glen (and others),
> That 2 deg AFTER, is with the (properly functioning vacuum RETARD)
> connected at the time of dynamic timing with a timing light. If your
> retard unit isn't working (very likely) then set it at 10 or even 12
> deg
> before. If your engine doesn't ping under load, then every thing is
> all
> right. Actually your engine will thank you for it. You want as MUCH
> advance as your engine will tolerate (without knocking) for best
> performance. Engines like advance. They NEED advance. You'll find
> that
> you will have more power, and that you will run COOLER with the PROPER
> advance for your engine- The factory advance, especially with later
> emission controlled engines, is a compromise between performance,
> economy,
> and emissions, with later years placing more importance on the latter-
>
>
> Barry Schwartz (San Diego) bschwart@pacbell.net
> 72 V6 Spitfire (daily driver)
> 70 GT6+ (when I don't drive the Spit)
> 70 Spitfire
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