Folks, volks,

Correct if wrong, but conventional wisdom says VWOA specified ATDC timing in
the early 1980s ONLY to meet pollution control standards. Is that right?

It then follows that we can run these engines at other settings without any
harm, and perhaps more power, if we don't care about destroying the only
environment we have and causing mass extinction in an apocalyptic heat wave
combined with unending hurricanes and general annihilation.

OK, that means we can run our waterboxers at TDC, 5 BTDC, or even more, to
good effect, except for the minor environmental probs mentioned.

What I want to know is: who here are running at TDC or BTDC? How long have
you been doing it? Has there been any identifiable engine damage? Better
power? Better or worse fuel economy?

I ran my 1.9 at around 5 BTDC before I got chicken and set it back to ATDC.
It's less peppy, but there isn't really a huge amount of difference. I had
an idea in my head that I'd burning a piston or a valve and didn't want to
risk it. Is that right?

Anybody been running BTDC for years and years?

thanks

Geza