Dare I Change the timing ?

marc hildebrant

marc hildebrant

Well-known member
Group,

A little reading can be dangerous.......

While reading about the Model T/A, I found that the octane rating for gas was lowered some in the late 1920's to around 40-50. That fact was sighted when the author talked about a lower power in the Model T engine around 1926-7.

If the model A was designed for that low of an octane, and today's octane is at least 85 (here in Colorado), wouldn't it make sense to have some advance at TDC when you are timing your engine ? Currently, I set the timing for zero at TDC.

Marc
 
I think you'll find that if you "set" your timing a little more advanced you'll be driving with the lever a little more retarded, or experience some "pinging". The neat thing about a Model A is that the spark control is in your left hand and meant to be adjusted while you drive depending on driving conditions. The more you experiment with it the better you'll be at having it set "just right" with the lever.
 
If you are running a stock distributor then you have 40° of advance which is more than enough and possibly TOO MUCH if you've added more compression. That is what the lever is for.
 
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