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Jul 15, 2005 | 09:36 PM

jav409

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Question About FAQ

In the Fe Faq

Q: My FE seems very sluggish at low RPMs and sometimes pops through the carb under rapid accelerator depression.
A: The factory timing initial advance specs on the FE are 6BTDC. Increasing the advance to 10 - 12BTDC can greatly increase your throttle responsiveness. If you are still getting popping through the carb you may need to fix your accelerator pump or get a bigger one.

My question is this : if your distro was set on the 15 slot wouldnt that get you a total mech timing of 40 - 42 * and if you were on the 13 slot it would give you 36-38*, isn't this a bad thing ? I was told here to run a max mech of 32* and thats what I have been running,the 352 runs good but it likes timing so what is it 32* or up to 42* ?

Jul 16, 2005 | 09:49 AM

Putt

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 2,232

Likes: 1

From: Colville, Washington

jav409-The FE seems to like more timing than most other motors. As long as it does not ping, your engine would like the extra 4*-6* initial timing. I had a "walking" dist problem for awhile and my previous 390 would run just fine up to about 20* base timing!! Most mildly built FE's seem to like 36* to 40* total timing, but every engine combination is unique!!

Jul 16, 2005 | 04:21 PM

Hypoid

Cargo Master

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 2,574

Likes: 4

From: Golden, CO

I found the post you referred to. Bear won't leave you muddled in confusion by listing variables not particular to your set-up. He addressed your concerns about preignition/detonation by giving you safe working parameters. I value Bear's advice. Like others that post here, he's been there, done that, and forgot more than some people learn.

Like Putt said, there is a lot more out there. Follow the posts on some of these high dollar builds, you'll watch Voodoo transform into science: research, calculation, guesstimation, observation, fine tuning. The more I learn, the more I realize there's much more to be learned.

Feel like experimenting? What the heck! We've been taking our toys apart since we discovered we could.

Have fun, Mike

Jul 16, 2005 | 08:25 PM

jav409

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Bears Advice has been real solid, and the truck runs good, I get around 15 -16 mpg on the freeway at 65mph , the cooler plugs still seem like thay are burning lean but when I went up a jet size they got fluffy carbon on them , I like many here are always trying to get the most out of our engines ( with out hopefully blowing them up! ) I was going to put a smallblock in but I just cant do it, Im afraid I got the cubic inch bug, All the engine space and a need to fill it up. Drat! im hooked, durn Fords

Last edited by jav409; Jul 16, 2005 at 08:28 PM.

Jul 16, 2005 | 08:57 PM

gtex

Lead Driver

Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 6,175

Likes: 21

From: Texas

I doubt very much that a small-block would help with your mielage. You've already done quite well with your FE to get 15-16mpg. What transmission, gears, tire combination do you have?

I think the only way to improve over what you're seeing is a new small-block fuel injected motor and and OD transmission. But, even my experience with those was not better than 15-16mpg....

Jul 17, 2005 | 12:19 AM

Bear 45/70

Post Fiend

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 6,056

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From: Union, Washington

In the good old days Ford sent the FE engine out of the factory with a total advance of 38*. When I was into drag racing in a major way ( back when rocks were still soft). I had a dual point dist. set up so that in 1st and 2nd gear it ran 42* total advance and then when shifted into high (was running a C6) dropped the timing back to 38*. Did this with my 390GT, 427 Medium risier 8V and the 428CJ. Made the car launch harder and accelerate faster in the lower gears (worth about a 10 of a second in the 1/4).

Jul 17, 2005 | 09:37 AM

jav409

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Joined: Aug 2004

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Gtex, it's in a 1966 F100 it has a factory 3 speed manual with overdrive, 27" tires. and a Dana 44 3.54 gears, I turn around 2200 rpm at 65mph gps, I was thinking of going to a 29" tire and maby lower that rpm a bit, this is with a dual exaust and 2 br Holley 500cmf carb on stock manifold, using Bears advice I have made a few changes to the carb to make it more streetabull and some distro mods. Im runing a pertronics ing with a blaster coil.
next will be Holley 600 and eldabrock performer with headers, in the mean time I have procured a 78 E250 Van with a 460 and C6 I may take the time to build this and then install, ( I dont expect great milage at all) and am trying to locate a 9" rear that fits. This is fun, it kinda reminds me of my ute, hehe im 53, and teenager agin!