Re: Distributor recap long read

[Schuyler Wrobel <schuyler62@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Doug & Earl, thanks for your response you guys always give
sound advice
here's one of the main reasons I removed the vacuum advance
remember this is a Mopar performance electronic distributor
with the magnetic pick-up which is attached to the advance plate
that moves on a pivot there is a metal reluctor with fins shaped into it
that pass very close to the pick-up as this thing spins around on
top of the distributors shaft, I think the gap is .008 or something 
like that.
the gap is set with a brass feeler gage. when the advance arm pulls the
magnetic pick-up back to advance the timing it also increases the gap!
is more gap needed with more advance? the advance plate also became
easier to tip in the advanced mode varying the gap even more, this
can't be good could it? and yes, there is probably something else afoot
like the carburetor was giving me trouble, so I poped it off and gave
it a enema of Gumout and compressed air, and it seemed to help
it breath, back to normal. it's a 3yr. old Carter AFB still looks brand 
new.
I guess the smog of L.A. has finally worked it's way in. Or, maybe
the mud from the Triple C Ranch New Years. took a long time
to get the mud out...  and yeh, I'm happy with the Dodge and happy to
fix it where and when ever I can. for as long as I can..,.
thanks Schuyler

Schuyler 62 Dodge Dart 440 wagon w/ Poly 318
 <http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/ml-wrobel62.html>
On Mar 23, 2005, at 12:52 PM, Doug Ahern wrote:

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> On 59 03/23/05, Schuyler Wrobel wrote:
> > my family and our excessive amounts of luggage the Poly pulled us
> > over the grades and passes that normally gave me a little trouble,
> > an annoying slight ping at part throttle, now there's no ping no
> > backing down... no one is gunna pass me on the hill.  please read
>
> If your happy with the wagon's performance, thats all that matters
> but on a street car, if you can't get your stock ignition to work
> with VA (vac. adv.)  then it would appear to me that something is
> a foot.  I went back and read the thread, and it seems like some
> points were skipped.
>
> like, how does an engine benefit from VA? and why do street cars
> have it?  remember that VA primarily exists deliver better economy
> and efficiency during part-throttle cruising conditions.  It does
> not function at WOT, which means you should have no VA (or very
> little) when passing other cars or gettin on the express way.
> Its when you are maintaining cruising speed, or coasting.   If
> you drive around with a vacuum gauge, you'll see when your VA
> is working and when its not working (or supposed to...)
>
> Schuyler, you experienced an "annoying slight ping at part throttle"
> right?  sounds like denotation?   If you step down on the throttle,
> the pinging with stop because the vacuum disappeared, and will out
> vacuum (or with less vacuum) the VA cannister stop advancing
> the ignition, and proper ignition (not pre-ignition/detonation)
> will occur earlier (maybe 35deg. instead of 50deg.)...  For a normally
> functioning car, this means #1) you've got too much advance
> (initial adv.+mech. adv.+VA), OR #2) your using a gas that ignites
> too quickly (octane is too low).  If its #2, do what Bob Hope advised
> and "knock out the knocks.." with high octane (more resistant to early
> detonation).   If its #1, and its a stock (more or less) ignition
> system and a stock/mild engine, reduce the initial timing or
> tune (dial) your VA to provide slightly less advance.
>
> sometimes detonation occurs at cruising speed and when you begin to
> take a slight incline, yet you haven't given the engine any additional
> throttle.  In this case,  total advance is the same (VA in effect),
> but because of the incline, there is more work to do, and the load
> on your engine has increased which will result in increased cylinder
> pressure and increased tendency to detonate.  at this point, you need
> less advance, so you step on the throttle and VA backs down...  less
> advance plus more gas...  the perfect thing for a wagon with 1000
> pounds of people, pets, and luggage going up a hill :-)
>
> any street car, especially heavy ones with highway gears, will benefit
> from VA.  its for economy at cruising speeds...
>
> Remember:
>
> Total adv @ high rpm and WOT =
> 	initial timing + mech. adv.
>
> Total adv @ high rpm and part-throttle =
> 	initial timing + mech. adv. + vac. adv.
>
> the total amount of advance needed depends on many things (cam profile,
> compression ratio, rearend ratio, weight the car, etc).  your car is
> somewhat unique in that for most 318 build-ups, yours is a heavy car
> (with what I suspect are cruising gears, 3.23:1 or 2.93:1)
> I don't think someone (an ignition company, engine builder, or
> otherwise) can look up in a some chart and say "this cam in
> a 318 needs this much advance"...
>
> Of course, its your thing, dowatchawannado,, but I suspect
> that a well tuned ignition with a fully functioning distributor,
> WITH vacuum advance would give you the best overall performance,
> drivability, and economy.
>
> Doug Ahern
> Athens, GA
>
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