Thanks Chris -

I went back to the shop and we went with 5 Deg BTDC. What a difference. It
hasn't run this good in years!  After 2 trips to the muffler shop, 3 to
the mechanics, one full Sunday working on the car, and 4 trips to the smog
tester, I now have a perfect running van, so it all was worth it.

Thanks to all who contributed.

Walter

On Mon, 7 Jul 2008 15:36:15 -0400, Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>I've been running mine set to 2.1 L specs as per Ken Wilford for the last
8
>years.
>
>Are you saying you are running yours 19 degrees BTDC or 19 degrees
advanced
>over stock, as in 14 degrees BTDC?
>
>http://www.vanagain.com/newsletter_122607.html
>
>I quote "I like to set the timing to 7 degrees BTDC. I know the book says
5
>degrees ATDC but I have found that the 1.9l Engine runs crappy at this
>setting. I have found you can safely advance the timing to the same
setting
>as the 2.1l Vanagons with no ill effects. In fact usually it increases
your
>horsepower and smooths out the idle. Then adjust your rpms down by turning
>the idle air screw (large slotted screw on the top of the throttle body)
in
>a little. Count your turns so that you can put the screw back to where you
>had it originally if need to. "
>
>Chris.
>
>On Mon, Jul 7, 2008 at 2:56 PM, Walter Houle <whoule@ecscontrols.com>
wrote:
>
>> After all of my smog changes (sucessful), I still have a distrubuter
with
>> a disconnected vacuum retard line and timing set "19 degrees advanced".
My
>> van runs great, and the shop says its probably OK to leave it as is
since
>> its been that way for the past 4 years. Now that the vacuum leaks are
>> fixed, is it OK? I now don't trust these guys anymore. Am I risking high
>> temps or damaging the engine?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Walter
>> 85 Vanagon 1.9L
>>