Advancing the spark

[updraught]

This is what you have to emulate when you pull the spark lever down. Don't know why it is not in the instruction manual ...

http://www.reds-headers.com/html/red...ne_talk_4.html

[captndan]

Interesting for some but not me. Sounds like a frustrated wannabe engineer writing a term paper.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by captndan

Interesting for some but not me. Sounds like a frustrated wannabe engineer writing a term paper.

Wrong! Barney Navarro was a very successful racer as well as speed equipment designer and manufacturer, not a "frustrated wannabe" anything! His explanation of the need for proper ignition timing is just basic knowledge needed for anyone to get the best efficiency, power and fuel mileage from their engine.
With a Model A, the driver must set (and continually reset) the timing for the varying conditions: idling, uphill, downhill, MPH, number of passengers, etc. The owner who uses the spark lever properly will see better power and fuel mileage and longer engine life than the pull-the-lever-down-and -forget-it, "ignorance is bliss", type of driver!

[slammin]

For those of us that aren't engineers (wannabe or other wise) successful racers, or Model A owners not striving for high point restorations, would an after market distributor or a B distributor be better?

[marc hildebrant]

I like the ability to adjust the spark myself. If it's a bother, then why own a car like the Model A ? There are many other antique cars that have automatic adjustments. For example, my first car was a 1933 Chevrolet and it had a spark advance system that used both vacuum (retard) and centrifugal advance.

It was a very "cool" car.

Marc

[40 Deluxe]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by slammin

For those of us that aren't engineers (wannabe or other wise) successful racers, or Model A owners not striving for high point restorations, would an after market distributor or a B distributor be better?

Yes!

[CWPASADENA]

Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe

Wrong! Barney Navarro was a very successful racer as well as speed equipment designer and manufacturer, not a "frustrated wannabe" anything! His explanation of the need for proper ignition timing is just basic knowledge needed for anyone to get the best efficiency, power and fuel mileage from their engine.
With a Model A, the driver must set (and continually reset) the timing for the varying conditions: idling, uphill, downhill, MPH, number of passengers, etc. The owner who uses the spark lever properly will see better power and fuel mileage and longer engine life than the pull-the-lever-down-and -forget-it, "ignorance is bliss", type of driver!

I agree.

Read the Instruction Book (Manual). Henry has most of this information in the "Book". It is alarming that so few owners ever bothered to read the "Instruction Book" that came with the car. There is a lot of information in there.

Personally, I like the manual spark control.

Adding a little advance for some conditions and retarding the timing a little for others will allow the engine to run better.

Again folks,

This is just my opinion and what I do.

I am sure others may do things differently, which is OK with me.

Chris W.

[Benson]

Ten years ago a friend was explaining to this guy on the phone how to adjust Model A timing.

After 7 or 8 times of going over the procedure it was obvious that he had no idea of how to do the job.

He just could not get his head around what the spark lever was ...

Finally on the 9th try this comes back through the phone line:
see below































OH ... you mean the Parade Lever !!


Phil laughed so loud that he dropped the phone ??

Sounds like he thought the lever was only used to make car go slower for Parades.


When using it that way it causes MASSIVE overheating and warps valves and exhaust manifold. I saw a car once with a red glow coming from under hood from running 45 at night with retarded spark.

No wonder some exhaust manifolds are 1/8th inch lower at number 4 exhaust port.

[updraught]

I'm sure the 5 million or something new owners all read the manual just like drivers of new cars today.

With high compression heads, modern fuel, B type cams, drilled manifolds etc. There seems to be a lot of hot bangers in the ranks. A worn engine has about 50 lbs of compression and a newly reconditioned one about 95 with a new high comp head I gather.
Every modification needs spark advance tuning. A bit of knowledge isn't a bad thing even if it prompts some more discussion with your engine builder because it is all too hard.

[California Travieso]

Originally Posted by Benson

Ten years ago a friend was explaining to this guy on the phone how to adjust Model A timing.

After 7 or 8 times of going over the procedure it was obvious that he had no idea of how to do the job.

He just could not get his head around what the spark lever was ...

OH ... you mean the Parade Lever !!


Phil laughed so loud that he dropped the phone ??

Sounds like he thought the lever was only used to make car go slower for Parades.

When using it that way it causes MASSIVE overheating and warps valves and exhaust manifold. I saw a car once with a red glow coming from under hood from running 45 at night with retarded spark.

No wonder some exhaust manifolds are 1/8th inch lower at number 4 exhaust port.

That's the problem with Many Model A owners who don't drive their cars a lot, including myself. We do not drive enough to learn the sweet spots for the spark advance and the GAV. It's ok on flat roads, but when you have to deal with hills and city traffic, it adds additional elements.

At my age, it's also hard to remember all the things you have to do in a Model A that you don't have to do in modern cars. That's why I'm getting the Nu-Rex centrifugal advance. It's the cheapest and easiest mod that will help with this problem.

David Serrano

[RawhideKid]

Originally Posted by California Travieso

That's the problem with Many Model A owners who don't drive their cars a lot, including myself. We do not drive enough to learn the sweet spots for the spark advance and the GAV. It's ok on flat roads, but when you have to deal with hills and city traffic, it adds additional elements.

At my age, it's also hard to remember all the things you have to do in a Model A that you don't have to do in modern cars. That's why I'm getting the Nu-Rex centrifugal advance. It's the cheapest and easiest mod that will help with this problem.

David Serrano

David, PM sent.