Mark that sounds more like a phazing problem, jumping ...  I would not have thought 48 degrees at cruise is not that bad, its not uncommon for [older] cars to be over 50 degrees. These are not high compression motors. Some enlighten me if Im wrong??



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

48 deg at 2250rpm sounds pretty high cruising advance. I have about 37/2250 at cruising load, but that is not dyno proven advance, it just feels good. Total advance can be like 50 when RPM's go over 4000, but that cannot be done with normal dizzy.


Hyvinkää, FI

Maximum total available timing adavance should be limited to about 42 at the crank.If you are using the 13L slot on the centrifugal advance plus about 10 -12 initial advance the vacuum advance should be adjusted to about 6 max.This would give you 42-44 maximum available.I would limit it to 42 myself.The vacuum can is adjustable on most distributors using an Allen key.You can check the available advance by disconnecting the vacuum line at idle and checking timing.Reconnect the line with direct manifold vacuum and see how far it advances at idle which is where you would  have maximum engine vacuum.The vacuum can is adjusted by inserting Allen key and turning the screw clockwise I believe until you only get about 6 degrees advance.At cruising speed when manifold vacuum is high the vacuum advance also starts to advance the timing again  for best fuel economy.Too much available advance at the 48 range can actually fire the sparkplug in the next cylinder in the firing order.The piston is comming up on compression and the plug fires trying to push the piston back down.Not good for the engine.

  

I used a second hand windsor dizzy in mine. It cost me nothing. All i had to do was cut of the bottom of the shaft of my old y block one and weld it to the windsor one, then drop it straight in. Worked like a charm.

Just bought a Pertronix 3 . It has the multi spark all the way through the rev range and a rev limiter [for those that need it] and it is only a few bucks more I got it for $116.delivered [in US]  I'll fit that in August with the matching coil when I get back from the States. let you know the difference.



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Steve can you put up your diagram showing the advance plate mod he may as well do that while he's at it. To give you an idea I just picked up another cardone reco dissy for for $71. delivered to my mate in Cali. I can tell you that my timing is all in by about 2250rpm with the 925D springs and Im sure my total with vacuum is 48 degrees. This works fine for me I do get a slight ping but only when I punch it really hard and it drops a gear. I dont do that everyday! Im not sure how you will go with your fuel. You dont really need a Sun dissy machine you can do it on your car with a timing light and your mark your balancer [ pulley] with the timing degrees, more time consuming tho'.



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

The Mr. Gasket 925D spring kit is 2 lighter springs only.Not multiple springs.You can use one light one with one standard spring or 2 light ones to change the curve.The best way to set it up is with an old Sun dist. machine and have all advance in by about 2500-2800 RPM.Maximum total advance including vacuum advance should be limited to about 42 total advance degrees. 

  

Best distributor is no distributor at all.


Hyvinkää, FI

MSD Pro Billet if you want to go easy way, crank trigger if you want to go hard and accurate way . Just my opinion.

 Seppo from Järvenpää, Finland
www.hollowheads.net (just click the hole in the head to proceed)

Maybe Rob (Talkwrench) will be on a little later - he lives in Perth.

The Mr Gasket spring pack he referred to is a card of "re-curve" springs that fit the Ford distributor. Unless you have access to an old "Sun" machine or other such tuning device - you will have to choose your mechanical advance springs by the seat of your pants and try them out. The "softer" springs in the pack will let your advance mechanism swing out to full advance at a lower RPM. 

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona