The Ford Barn

stouchton · 09-06-2013, 02:03 PM

Looking for someone to critique or hold my hand on this....

Decided to reset my timing - car ran fine but I was concerned I had not set it accurately prior (i.e. rushed doing it!).

Basically, found TDC with the timing pin and confirming this seemed to be correct by watching piston.

Adjusted max point gap to .020"

Set cam to where the points were just closed (paying attention to taking up the backlash).

I have the cam set so that the points are just closed at TDC. If you advance the spark lever down 2 notches the points open before you get to the 2nd notch. I used the audible tone on a multimeter to tell if they were open or closed.

To me, this should be just a hint (degree or 2) retarded at TDC.

Engine starts and runs well, likes to be advanced about halfway while running, does not ping with full advance (though I don't drive with it there). However - I can over-advance at idle. At about halfway, the idle speed picks up like it should. Take the advance lever further and the idle suffers. I did not think you could dial enough advance in to hurt idle??

A friends car does not do this, and he swears he is timed accurately.

So, if you made it thru my long winded dissertation, is my timing method correct? Am I over-advanced or is the engine (idle) behaving normally?

Thanks for reading and appreciate any feedback. Basically just don't want to hurt the motor!

09-06-2013, 02:03 PM	#1
stouchton Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Pottstown, PA Posts: 342	Another in the long line of timing questions... Looking for someone to critique or hold my hand on this.... Decided to reset my timing - car ran fine but I was concerned I had not set it accurately prior (i.e. rushed doing it!). Basically, found TDC with the timing pin and confirming this seemed to be correct by watching piston. Adjusted max point gap to .020" Set cam to where the points were just closed (paying attention to taking up the backlash). I have the cam set so that the points are just closed at TDC. If you advance the spark lever down 2 notches the points open before you get to the 2nd notch. I used the audible tone on a multimeter to tell if they were open or closed. To me, this should be just a hint (degree or 2) retarded at TDC. Engine starts and runs well, likes to be advanced about halfway while running, does not ping with full advance (though I don't drive with it there). However - I can over-advance at idle. At about halfway, the idle speed picks up like it should. Take the advance lever further and the idle suffers. I did not think you could dial enough advance in to hurt idle?? A friends car does not do this, and he swears he is timed accurately. So, if you made it thru my long winded dissertation, is my timing method correct? Am I over-advanced or is the engine (idle) behaving normally? Thanks for reading and appreciate any feedback. Basically just don't want to hurt the motor!