The Ford Barn

smittykid · 09-11-2015, 02:52 PM

On my 29 Fordor, I'm still having problems with the spark advance/retard. The lever is moving the rod coming out of the distributor all the way to the right when retarded and moves it to the left when advanced. There is no real change in the engine sound. Today, while the car was running, I disconnected the rod and moved the advance/retard plate manually. As I suspected-there was little or no change in engine sound. What is causing this? The car runs a little rough at lower speeds and seems to smooth out at higher speeds-35-40 mph. It feels like I should have a little more power at the high end. I've set the points & timed it. The advance/retard plate on the distributor had me stumped. Any thoughts and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

Tom Endy · 09-11-2015, 03:03 PM

I sounds as if the ignition is advanced too far. Re-set the timing. Adjust the points first to .018-.022. Also check to see if you have a B-engine front timing cover installed. This will cause you timing to be advanced. A B-timing cover will have an oblong boss where the timing pin screws in.

Tom Endy

Mitch//pa · 09-11-2015, 03:23 PM

Also make sure you do not have side play in the distributor shaft

mrtexas · 09-11-2015, 03:41 PM

Check timing with timing light. You would have to mark the pulley for TDC and get a timing gauge. Suppliers sell the gauge for $10.

CarlG · 09-11-2015, 06:04 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by mrtexas

Check timing with timing light. You would have to mark the pulley for TDC and get a timing gauge...

I like this one that I got on eBay:

09-11-2015, 02:52 PM	#1
smittykid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: NW Pa./Sc. Posts: 252	Distributor timing arm question On my 29 Fordor, I'm still having problems with the spark advance/retard. The lever is moving the rod coming out of the distributor all the way to the right when retarded and moves it to the left when advanced. There is no real change in the engine sound. Today, while the car was running, I disconnected the rod and moved the advance/retard plate manually. As I suspected-there was little or no change in engine sound. What is causing this? The car runs a little rough at lower speeds and seems to smooth out at higher speeds-35-40 mph. It feels like I should have a little more power at the high end. I've set the points & timed it. The advance/retard plate on the distributor had me stumped. Any thoughts and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

09-11-2015, 03:03 PM	#2
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,168	Re: Distributor timing arm question I sounds as if the ignition is advanced too far. Re-set the timing. Adjust the points first to .018-.022. Also check to see if you have a B-engine front timing cover installed. This will cause you timing to be advanced. A B-timing cover will have an oblong boss where the timing pin screws in. Tom Endy

09-11-2015, 03:23 PM	#3
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Distributor timing arm question Also make sure you do not have side play in the distributor shaft

09-11-2015, 03:41 PM	#4
mrtexas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 4,420	Re: Distributor timing arm question Check timing with timing light. You would have to mark the pulley for TDC and get a timing gauge. Suppliers sell the gauge for $10.