Hmmmm....pulled the distributor to get the blue bushing off - it was rusted on pretty good - TIP - check yours and make sure you've got some
oil or grease on it to keep it from rusting on like mine.
Screwed up and re-installed the distributor 180 deg off - tried to crank it and got some immediate nasty rifle shot back-fires. Hoping I didn't blow out a power valve on the carb. However, recalled doing this on my mustang about 25 years ago, so figured it out pretty quick. Got the car to TDC and then installed the distributor with the rotor at #1 cylinder wire connection. Started up as usual after that.
Now have blue (light) and silver (light) springs on with black bushing. According the MSD instructions I have this should give 18 deg mechanical advance, all in by about 2100 rpm.
Put the timing light on and got the initial timing down to 18-19. She is not happy idleing at around 900 - 925rpms. The car really idles better with a high 20s initial advance. Ran up the RPMs and it seems that it's basically on track with what the MSD chart says. So I've got total advance of 36-38deg all in at the low 2000s.
Based on the engine, it seems it is set up to want a lot of advance so I may bump up the initial.
Lashed the valves to .018 hot. Seem to have more
oil leaks that usual, and the
oil temp really got up higher than usual.
Took it for a spin and didn't really feel any improvement and if I had to guess it was worse.
Well, I'll keep plugging. Need to get the carb jetted leaner and probably do that and get a final timing set-up during a dyno session.
Thank God for beer and garage refrigerators!
