This might be a pretty basic question but I would be interested if not educated as to how other Ford Popular owners adjust their ignition timing. I know that I can do the static timing and I was thinking of making a few marks on flywheel and block so that I could use a timing light once I had it all set up. Also I have a Dwell meter which hasn't seen much use recently. What should the dwell angle be for a 1954 Ford Popular engine? Also what should the idle rev's be set to? I've checked the service manual and there doesn't seem to be any hard or fast settings, I'm new to this vehicle and classic cars although not to general mechanics or electrics.
Thanks
Ignition Timing on 1954 Ford Popular 103E
Re: Ignition Timing on 1954 Ford Popular 103E
Set the points gap with a feeler guage as normal. Then set the timing static, as you say, so that the engine runs OK.
Then I'd road test it - a long steep-ish hill is best, ideally a quiet one. Go up it at a fair pace, and keep advancing the timing a little each "run" until it just starts to pink with the throttle wide open. Then back it off until it just stops pinking, and there's your ideal timing. Personally, I then make timing marks so I can return it to this setting without all the road-testing palaver.
The reason for doing it this way is that it's setting the timing in a real-time dynamic way. If you set it to the "book" figure, even using a timing light, it won't be quite right for modern fuels, because the book figure was obtained by the factory on fuel that was very different to that in use today, and one of the differences includes how fast the mixture burns (speed of the flame front) which will usually mean that the original settings are no longer optimal.
That's how I do it anyways, and it works brilliantly on all my "old" motors, in fact my Midget runs like a can of nails if I set it to the book figure - hope that helps?
Cheers
Then I'd road test it - a long steep-ish hill is best, ideally a quiet one. Go up it at a fair pace, and keep advancing the timing a little each "run" until it just starts to pink with the throttle wide open. Then back it off until it just stops pinking, and there's your ideal timing. Personally, I then make timing marks so I can return it to this setting without all the road-testing palaver.
The reason for doing it this way is that it's setting the timing in a real-time dynamic way. If you set it to the "book" figure, even using a timing light, it won't be quite right for modern fuels, because the book figure was obtained by the factory on fuel that was very different to that in use today, and one of the differences includes how fast the mixture burns (speed of the flame front) which will usually mean that the original settings are no longer optimal.
That's how I do it anyways, and it works brilliantly on all my "old" motors, in fact my Midget runs like a can of nails if I set it to the book figure - hope that helps?
Cheers
Some people are like Slinkies - they serve no useful purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them downstairs.
Re: Ignition Timing on 1954 Ford Popular 103E
Many thanks for this. I'll give it a try and see how I get on.