Sean:

My book calls for timing 4 to 6 degrees AFTER TDC.  If you're really
timing BTDC then you're too far advanced.  This if for Hall effect
distributor.  Don't know about points.

On Thu, 4 Jun 1998, Linda Bartnik wrote:

> [snip]
>
> I also learned, while driving on the highway with both windows open that
> my engine is pinging quite a bit!  I'm not sure if this is a result or
> cause of the compression/heating problem, but it was pinging even under
> a medium load.  I had already retarded the base timing to 4 degrees BTDC
> from the stock spec of 7.5 BTDC but the pinging was still going.  So I
> checked the total advance on my distributor and found it's advancing to
> at least 38 degrees BTDC.  Does anyone know what the max. advance spec
> is for the distributor on this particular Type 4 engine?  What can I do
> about it?  I have a spare distributor that I plan to install to see if
> that helps.  Is there anything about a distributor that would cause an
> over-advancing condition?
>

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Tom Young               young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU
Lafayette, CA  94549    '81 Vanagon
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