Don:

That was a smiling moment, I have fond memories of using two papers to adjust the timing - one for a smoke and the other between the points and notch :-) 

> On 23-Aug-2017, at 15:10, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> My 57 air cooled bus always needed to be re-timed when I went from 6000'
> elevation to sea level.... otherwise it would stop!.... literally skid to a
> halt as the motor got too hot..., Wait a bit, and she'd go again..
>   I got good at timing it using a zig-zag rolling paper between the points
> and the fan pulley notch...
> 
> On Aug 23, 2017 10:50 AM, "Christophe Guilbert" <cguilbert@picasso.ucsf.edu>
> wrote:
> 
> Thanks Dennis.
> 
> You guessed it, I removed the ERG, Yes cylinder head is over 400 most of
> the time.
> My van is a California model so the timing is 5deg ATDC, taking into
> account that I have no ERG, reducing the timing down to 35 degrees would
> means what ? 40 (35+5) ATDC or 30(35-5) BTDC ?
> 
> I have a secondary oil cooler in the front already in place , I just did
> not had time to connect it yet using PTFE stainless braided line and
> plate sandwich (with thermostat). I love your setting but it appears to
> me that you need to remove the engine to install it. I will certainly do
> that during  my next engine rebuild. I will connect the second oil
> cooler this week, do I still need to change the timing knowing that the
> temp will be fixed ?
> 
> Thanks so much for the help.
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> On 08/22/2017 10:58 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Your engine is overheating terribly. Your oil temp should be around
>> 200 or lower. Cylinder head temps are probably well over 400. Most
>> likely your EGR system is missing or not working. As a fix you need to
>> get the ignition timing down to about 35 degrees total advance.
>> Consider getting a real oil cooling system in place.
>> 
>> Dennis
>> 
>> Sent from my Windows 10 phone
>> 
>> *From: *Christophe Guilbert <mailto:cguilbert@PICASSO.UCSF.EDU>
>> *Sent: *Tuesday, August 22, 2017 7:29 PM
>> *To: *vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> *Subject: *oil pressure problem on my 1983 air-cooled
>> 
>> 
>> Hi guys,
>> 
>> I installed recently an oil pressure gauge in my vanagon (air-cooled 2L
>> 1983)
>> 
>> in a hot day (100F) , my (very annoying ) alarms triggers all the time
>> when I am idling. the pressure is less than 5 PSI for an oil temp of
>> 250-260F.
>> 
>> I notice that the oil pressure really diminish over oil temperature
>> which is normal but I am wondering if I am within the spec .
>> 
>> When engine is cool , I have a PSI of 45. I have 20PSI around 240F when
>> the van is cruising at 60-65MPH, it goes down to 15PSI at 260F while
>> cruising at 60-65MPH.
>> 
>> I think my oil pressure is too low , What do you think ? . Do you think
>> my oil pump is guilty ? , I went cheap by not replacing it when I
>> rebuilt my engine.
>> 
>> Do you also think that the low oil pressure could  be the reason why I
>> have noisy hydraulic lifter when the engine is cold.
>> 
>> Thanks for any feedback
>> 
>> 
>> Chris
>>