Good point Bill, so we all agree that retardedness can cause more heat -
whether in the engine or under the collar.

Clive

----- Original Message -----
From: <minor35@juno.com>
To: <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM>
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2002 3:38 AM
Subject: Re: Zoooooom!

> Keep working on that retarded ignition thing and I'll keep working on
> solving the problem with retarded drivers.
>
> Bill M.
>
> On Sun, 18 Aug 2002 00:10:36 +0100 Clive Smith
> <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM> writes:
> > Note that a slightly retarded ignition can cause the engine to
> > produce more
> > internal heat....
> >
> > Clive
> > '88 Syncro Transporter
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jeremy Speer" <jspeer@POBOX.COM>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2002 8:06 PM
> > Subject: Zoooooom!
> >
> >
> > Folks,
> >
> > I drove out to my mechanic's place this morning to pick up the
> > transmission
> > mount he'd ordered for me. While we were talking i asked about the
> > ongoing
> > sluggish performance i'd been experiencing for some time.
> >
> > I asked, "can we put a timing light on it and check where it's at?"
> >
> > We got out the light, hooked it up, started the engine, and all he
> > could say
> > was, "oh, now *that's* not right."
> >
> > He reached in and unhooked the temp II sensor, the idle increased a
> > bit,
> > then he checked again with the light. It was fully 3+ degrees
> > retarded.
> >
> > Working gingerly, right through the moving belts, he loosened the
> > distributor and turned it. Immediately the idle smoothed out.
> > Holding the
> > light in one hand and turning the distributor with the other we
> > watched the
> > notch as it aligned with the case halves... he advanced it a bit
> > more (2-3
> > degrees), then tightened the distributor and rechecked. He cautioned
> > me to
> > listen for pinging... and back the advance closer to 5 degrees if i
> > hear any
> > pre-ignition.
> >
> > HOLY COW... it's like i have a new engine! I could pull up his
> > driveway in
> > 2nd gear. I can shift at a reasonable RPM now and not dog out while
> > the car
> > behind me lands in my back seat. I could accelerate in 4th gear and
> > pass
> > another car on the highway and not have to plan the move five
> > minutes in
> > advance. On the drive home the temp needle stayed fully below the
> > LED.
> >
> > I realize i might sound like an idiot spouting off about something
> > everybody
> > else already knows, but since i don't own a timing light i was never
> > certain
> > where my timing was set....and the previous shop i went to never
> > even
> > mentioned timing as an issue.
> >
> > All in all a very, very good learning experience. Check that timing!
> >
> >
> > -jspeer
> >
> > '89 Westy, "Mystery Machine"
> > Happy at ~7� BTDC
> >
>
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