The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1961 Apache 235 timing

Can someone tell me how you set the timing on a 235? Mine pings under hard acceleration.

Think of the vacuum advance unit as an arrow and the end pointing out away from the distributor as the feathers, and inside the distributor as the pointy end. Turning with the arrow advances the timing, going backwards retards it. So, back the timing off, toward feather end till the ping is barely heard under heavy acceleration. That will be ideal timing.

Joe

Thanks Joe

I would first change/clean the points, check for worn contact area on points where they contact the distributor cam, and set the gap at .018 inch, then follow Joe's excellent advice. I ran around in circles with a similar problem as yours and couldn't get rid of the ping without losing most of my horsepower. Turned out to be badly worn points where the plastic rides on the distributor cam.
Carl

Very good advice above, as usual, from Joe & Carl.

If you have (or if you buy) an inexpensive vacuum & fuel-pump pressure gauge/tester, here is a simple technique for adjusting timing and the carburetor.