timing.. what to set it at?

[p24-1953]

mine is currently set at 0 tdc at idle. i have red 4btcd to 10btdc, what is reccomended? should i disconect the vaccum? or leave it connected.

[Normspeed]

I set mine at 4 degrees btdc at idle, with the vacuum advance connected. I think that's what the manual says for a 53-54.

[greg g]

You can set your timing with yoru vacuum gauge when you get it attached. with the car ideling and at operating temp, adjust the distributor to yield the highest reading on the gauge. You may have to readjust your idle speed after this. Id you get a sprk knock while accelerating or climbing grades, just back it off a bit. Turning the diz clockwise retards, anticlockwise advances.

Modern fuel burns differently than the gas did when yoru car was designed so factory settings may no longer be germain.

[Don Coatney]

Turning the diz clockwise retards, anticlockwise advances.

QUOTE]

Anticlockwise:confused:

[greg g]

Robin will understand.......and likely the Oz guys.

[bob_amos]

Easiest way to determine which way to move a distributor to advance the timing is to look for the vacuum advance. Think of the tip where the hose goes, or if you have a tube that screws in, think of that as a arrow pointing the direction to advance. To retard just turn the distributor in the oposite direction. (To make that a bit clearer, the hose or tube is where the arrow should be pointing to advance. So move it in the direction of the hose or tube to advance.)