Once, due to a mistake on my part, I had the timing advanced way too far. It would start and run fine as long as the throttle was being depressed quickly, but if allowed to slowly increase in speed to about 1700 RPMs, the ignition would cut out badly when the centrifugal weights advanced the timing.


What was happening was at that steady speed [without the low vacuum caused by open throttle], the vacuum canister was advancing the timing to such a point that at the recent OK GTG, it was theorized that the spark inside the distributor cap was jumping to the next terminal.


It would run fine without the vacuum advance, but did not deliver good performance [reduced mileage, primarily]. Also, it was more prone to pinging.


New distributor... was it recurved? The 1985 head is fast-burn in nature and depended on EGR to allow enough ignition advance to perform well. Without EGR, the timing needs to retarded to prevent pre-ignition.

 

I thought that story sounded familiar! Glad you stopped by, David. I think there's more timing work to be done here. What is the total mechanical advance on your dizzy? We know it has 10 degrees at 1700, but what at 3000?

 

I use the ported vacuum, I have a hand operated vacuum pump that I used to bleed the new brake system, the distributer checked out good, all new lines and fittings, I'm going to change the intake gasket, that's all that's left to check. It's a one piece intake/exhaust by Mr. Gasket. Have a new felpro 2 piece to put in

 

I won't let new Mr. Gasket stuff in my shop, much less use it. I've seen some absolutely awful stuff lately, although that was once a good brand. Shame, but I think it is a must to change to Felpro.

 

24 degrees @ 3000 RPMs [Gary, do you think it has ever advanced that far? ]

 

Yes, I think it probably did once - on that WOT run.