428 Timing

[RedCSX1]

Originally Posted by Argess

I run 28 Deg intial and 38 max with my non-vacuum dist. And I have run it higher with no issues.

A vacuum unit would be better as I could then set the intial around 16 (for my cam at max power) and the vacuum for 38 Deg at idle (best idle pulling 20 in Hg @ 38 @ 800 rpm).

WOW 28 intial is extremely high. Your right 16 to 18 would be much better.

[Argess]

Yes, I have it at 20 initial and 38 total now. A little higher than the 16-18 for my cam, but it helps keep the heat down, doesn't detonate as far as I can tell and the car being light helps.

[r67cat]

I swapped out my MSD dizzy with no vacuum advance for a Ford upgraded with a Pertronix with both mechanical and vacuum. What a difference. A non vac. advance dizzy is great for drag racing where 95% of the time you are a WOT. How many of us drive our car like that? Vacuum advance with mechanical advance permit these engines to perform as the engineers designed them to. What I have experienced is, smoother transition from idle to hard acceleration, quieter note an idle with the indisputable roar of a BB when the pedal is down, cooler temps and no fuel noted in the oil analysis from running retarded timing. Every oil analysis until I made the change showed a significant and troubling fuel contaminate in the oil. Talk to a powertrain engineer and ask them if vacuum advance is important on a high performance street engine and you will get the same answer every time. Just my 2 cents. Rick 428 FE