I'm trying to get my head around how to "correctly" set ignition timing.
I understand as the RPM band increases the plug needs to ignite sooner to accommodate for a faster moving piston, however I'm trying to understand what indicators provide the information that the timing has been set suitably for your build? Would you be looking for a smooth idle, certain noises while the engine is being revved? How does the distributor/computer know that it needs to increase timing as the engine starts spinning faster (since the distributor is mechanically controlled)?
I can understand on a stock build you can set ignition timing as per the service manual, however, how do you know where to set your ignition timing if you have a 300hp build running pump vs a 600hp build running E85?
Yes I know "your tuner should probably know", but this is more for my information on the topic. I'd like to know a bit more about the tuning side of things and ignition has always been an enigmatic subject for me.
Heaps of questions, if someone could help or point me in the right direction that'd be great.
Thanks.
I understand as the RPM band increases the plug needs to ignite sooner to accommodate for a faster moving piston, however I'm trying to understand what indicators provide the information that the timing has been set suitably for your build? Would you be looking for a smooth idle, certain noises while the engine is being revved? How does the distributor/computer know that it needs to increase timing as the engine starts spinning faster (since the distributor is mechanically controlled)?
I can understand on a stock build you can set ignition timing as per the service manual, however, how do you know where to set your ignition timing if you have a 300hp build running pump vs a 600hp build running E85?
Yes I know "your tuner should probably know", but this is more for my information on the topic. I'd like to know a bit more about the tuning side of things and ignition has always been an enigmatic subject for me.
Heaps of questions, if someone could help or point me in the right direction that'd be great.
Thanks.
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