Timing the Model A

[curt]

I have an electronic distributor in my car by FS ignitions. All of the directions I can find say to use a timing light, but they don't give a setting. Others say total advance of 26-28 degrees. What is meant by total advance? How do I set the timing to this spec? Any help would be very appreciated

 

[tbirdtbird]

I recently installed one of those and am very happy with it.
Set the dizzy to have zero degrees at TDC at idle. That is all there is to it. The centrif. advance in the dizzy will automatically advance up to about 28* at about 1500 rpm.

Use the timing pin to find TDC on #1 in the usual way. Temporarily fasten a length of heavy wire like a coat hanger wire to a timing cover bolt to use as a pointer. Make a mark on the crank pulley with a silver sharpie or anything. Bend the wire in such a way that it points to the mark you just made on the pulley.

You have just externalized the timing marks that Henry choose to put internally and out of sight. Connect the timing lite, start engine, let idle, and rotate dizzy until pointer and mark line up, tighten dizzy, done ! You are now timing the engine exactly as if you were timing a late model Ford (before they went to computers without dizzies )