Recurving a distrubutor
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27
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Recurving a distrubutor
I understand that recurving a distributor will enhance my 390's performance. What does this mean? How is it done and how can I get mine done? What improvements will I see in a stock 390 in a 72 F250? Any info is appreciated as I am completely in the dark on this.
Thanks
Scott
Thanks
Scott
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
Recurving a distrubutor
Recurving a distributor is changing how many rpms it takes to get full mechanical advance. You can do this by changing the springs and it will give slightly better performance in a stock 390 but not a whole lot. I have never recurved one so I'll let someone else give that info.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1
From: Central Kali
Recurving a distrubutor
I have an old Sun distributor machine and have been testing some different distributors lately. A strobe light flashes and you see all eight cylinders fire. There is a degree wheel so you can see if the timing is identical in all cylinders. By changing the springs and then the distributor rpm, you find out what the advance curve is. If you had a dyno you could find the best advance for a particular rpm and then adjust the advance curve to match.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
Recurving a distrubutor
> recurving a distributor will enhance my 390's performance
It involves changing weights and changing springs.
If you look inside your distributor (being careful not to drop/boing the little #$% E-clip that secures the vacuum advance) after removing everything from the top you will see two little weights with numbers. On mine it is 18/13 = 31 degrees of advance.
Then there are springs attached. On mine a light and heavy one. These curve the 18/13 timing.
It involves changing weights and changing springs.
If you look inside your distributor (being careful not to drop/boing the little #$% E-clip that secures the vacuum advance) after removing everything from the top you will see two little weights with numbers. On mine it is 18/13 = 31 degrees of advance.
Then there are springs attached. On mine a light and heavy one. These curve the 18/13 timing.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1
From: Central Kali
Recurving a distrubutor
Crane has a kit with different springs and a adjustable vacuum advance unit. Instructions come with the kit. I would prefer to check it on my distributor machine to find out what the advance is doing. I saw a picture of MSD springs and they look like Ford springs.
