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  •  » Everything you ever wanted to know about ignition timing..............

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    10/02/2015 4:01 PM  #1

    6sally6
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Surfside Beach,SC
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 6,883

    Everything you ever wanted to know about ignition timing..............

    butt were afraid to ask...
    Found this little nugget on another site so I stole it!
    Great info and archive worthy IMHO.
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?22229-The-Ultimate-Duraspark-Distributor-Timing-Guide


     

    Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
     

    10/02/2015 4:59 PM  #2

    wsinsle
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Belle Vernon, PA
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,708

    Re: Everything you ever wanted to know about ignition timing..............

    A lot of good info Sal

    If this forum can't fix it, it isn't broke.
     

    10/02/2015 9:59 PM  #3

    Crash716
    FYI FORD Member

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    Registered: 1/12/2014
    Posts: 33

    Re: Everything you ever wanted to know about ignition timing..............

    Wow...going thru this all right now with my new build...

    I have it set to 17 at idle, it is a Mallory vacuum assist distributer.  Seemed to run just fine, but smells a little rich...

    Gotta figure that out.

     

    10/03/2015 7:47 AM  #4

    MS
    Forum Originator

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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,308

    Re: Everything you ever wanted to know about ignition timing..............

    Distributor internal timing really does make a big difference.  That article is very informative and answers alot of questions.  I was thinking of going back to a Duraspark distributor so my Cobra air cleaner will fit again, but was concerned about the timing issues with off-the-shelf Duraspark distributors, most of which were produced for smog type low performance engines.  This gives the information to recurve one to the required specs of my engine.  While a Ford distributor does not have the fancy ballbearing shafts like the MSD or Mallory I have been using, I figure that is only needed for extreme situations like long duration full speed blasts, which just do not happen on the street, except maybe in Charleston.

    Thanks, 6sally6 for posting this.

    I noticed he had included alot of pictures in his article but they did not come through with the link provided.  Anybody know if there is some way to get to the original article that has the pictures?  I bet they add alot to the article,

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    10/03/2015 4:31 PM  #5

    wsinsle
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Belle Vernon, PA
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,708

    Re: Everything you ever wanted to know about ignition timing..............

    MustangSteve wrote:

    Distributor internal timing really does make a big difference.  That article is very informative and answers alot of questions.  I was thinking of going back to a Duraspark distributor so my Cobra air cleaner will fit again, but was concerned about the timing issues with off-the-shelf Duraspark distributors, most of which were produced for smog type low performance engines.  This gives the information to recurve one to the required specs of my engine.  While a Ford distributor does not have the fancy ballbearing shafts like the MSD or Mallory I have been using, I figure that is only needed for extreme situations like long duration full speed blasts, which just do not happen on the street, except maybe in Charleston.

    Thanks, 6sally6 for posting this.

    I noticed he had included alot of pictures in his article but they did not come through with the link provided.  Anybody know if there is some way to get to the original article that has the pictures?  I bet they add alot to the article,

     
    http://www.modmotortech.com/forums/internal-external-engine-22/ultimate-duraspark-ignition-timing-guide-598/

    Try this!

    If this forum can't fix it, it isn't broke.
     

    10/03/2015 5:44 PM  #6

    Steve69
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    From: Madison Wisconsin
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 2,752

    Re: Everything you ever wanted to know about ignition timing..............

    Thanks for posting!

     

    10/03/2015 9:16 PM  #7

    351MooseStang
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    From: Brookings, Oregon
    Registered: 4/03/2013
    Posts: 91

    Re: Everything you ever wanted to know about ignition timing..............

    Good info for reference, that's for sure! I'm running the stock distributor in my 351W with a few mods to the system. I have a marine dual point plate in place, no vacuum advance, MSD 6T box w/ rev limiter and remote timing adjust boxes. Timing is set at 16 BTDC idle (1000 RPM, 300 degree cam) with 20 degrees of centrifugal advance (36 degrees total). Ignition fired with a MSD marine Blaster II coil and I use the dash timing control to retard the timing for starting. If any MSD component fails, I hit three switches and I'm back to running with the dual point w/ ballast resistor. That saved my bacon once when a 6T decided to croak in the middle of a coastal rainstorm.

    It's an odd setup but I'm an odd kind of guy. Other than the 6T dying that one time, it's worked great for the last dozen+ years now.

     

    10/05/2015 7:44 AM  #8

    DC
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Marshall, MI
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,251

    Re: Everything you ever wanted to know about ignition timing..............

    I run two set-ups, one with the distributor locked with no mechanical advance and a startersaver box that retards about 20 degrees under 800 rpm. That motor idles at 1500, so no problem. The car I drive on street, has the mechanical advance and no vacuum advance. Both have complete MSD 6AL and MSD billet distributors. I set both at total advance with a light and have played with the mechanical advance in the street car to get smooth acceleration from idle up which is 1100 idle for it. The one with the locked distributor gives a rock steady light when you time it, the other has a bit of flutter once you get on the advance curve but steadies when advance is all in.

     

     

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