Les Andrews Timing on Youtube

Brobrian

Brobrian

Senior Member
A video on Youtube features Les Andrews giving a talk on timing. Thinking I know it all, I ignored it at first. Then on a whim I decided to check it out. As he was talking about "Setup", he mentioned making sure the notch in the back of the distributor body allows full retard and advance of the spark lever. Today when I rechecked my timing (about once a year for me), I checked this for the first time. It was way off! I was only getting about half the travel I should have. After adjusting the steering column properly, something I didn't know I could do having owned a '28 for most of my life, and retiming the car, I can't believe how much better it runs.
 
Has there ever been a consensus as to what is the optimum degrees of advance at the crankshaft that a stock model A runs best at when cruising on the level?

Full down on spark lever is way too much for any engine at 40 degrees.
 
pooch said:
Has there ever been a consensus as to what is the optimum degrees of advance at the crankshaft that a stock model A runs best at when cruising on the level?

Full down on spark lever is way too much for any engine at 40 degrees.
Click to expand...

Since there are variables in the system when the timing is set, I feel the best way is to bring down the lever until there is no noticeable increase in the engine RPM for a set MPH.
 
I agree with Mike and set mine at about 28 to 30 degrees while cruising 45 MPH on the level. This is a totally stock engine.
 
I'm doing the same thing. I just run it at about half down on the spark lever during in-town driving, and when I get on a long straight I pull it down until I notice no additional power or rpm.
Since stock A's don't have self-advancing timing, the trick for me is to decide how to set the timing on hills. I'd like to get the max power, but as the car slows down the rpm is changing and ideally the timing would change. Unless the hill is long and steady climb, the engine rpm's are changing too often (deceleration, shifting) to adjust to.
 
Yeah! How about that! If you told a modern mechanic "Well, I adjusted my steering column today to get more spark advance!" They would wonder what planet you're on.
Terry
 
Like telling an old timer mechanic to just burn a new program onto the memcal with UV light , easy as pie.
 
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