And to confuse you some more, if you go from 6* ATDC to 12*ATDC, then you've retarded it. 
Timing...Advance/Retard?
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Timing...Advance/Retard?
For all those who, after reading my question, consider me to be ignorant, please form an orderly line. When setting timing, which direction is "Advanced" and which direction is "Retarded"? Does "advancing" the timing make it occur later as in going from say 10 BTDC to 6 BTDC or earlier as in going from say 6 BTDC to 10 BTDC? I gotta tell you my head is spinning on this one. If I'm the only one on this site who doesn't get this, I'm OK with that. Thanks.
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From: Munroe falls, Ohio
Advancing:spark occuring sooner than spec
Retarding:spark occuring later than spec
If your spec is 10*BTDC(Before Top Dead Center)
advancing timing= anything greater than 10*, ie 12*, 14*
retarding timing=anything less than 10*, ie 8*, 6*
Retarding:spark occuring later than spec
If your spec is 10*BTDC(Before Top Dead Center)
advancing timing= anything greater than 10*, ie 12*, 14*
retarding timing=anything less than 10*, ie 8*, 6*
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So I guess it's opposite to all rational thought wherein if you advance your clock (keeping the concept of time), you move it forward..as in later. Kinda like in the bizzaro world,huh?
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From: south louisiana
Not really, advancing the spark means you're adjusting it to spark sooner. As Lee250 posted, turning the distributor clockwise is moving the cap and terminals toward the rotor in rotation. The rotor turns counterclockwise in all Ford V8's, excepting a reverse rotation marine engine. The faster the engine's running the sooner the spark needs to occur so that the fuel/air mixture has time to fully ignite so that there's the maximum push on the piston top when it reaches TDC. No fuel burns instantly, relatively speaking.
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Thasnks,baddad457. Your explanation makes good sense. I just think it's odd that real world time and engine time would have opposite meanings. I wonder what the original thinking was to establish this kind of relationship. Did the first engine builder say "Let's mess with people's heads and say that advancing the time of the spark means that it happens earlier." On the other hand, maybe all that electric kool-aid back in the 60's fried one too many of my synapses. Anyway, good work.