crappy mileage in 318 '76 Volare

egodeath

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after changing timing

OK, drove 80 miles city after setting my timing back to 0 TDC per Calif smog rules. Now gets worse mileage, 10 MPG, harder to start and run cold. Does this make sense to anybody? Naturally I will advance the timing again, but have no good clue where the right spot might be.

Checked trans fluid level fine, clear. Could it really be trans causing a problem?

That homebrew looks fine, good enough to cure my mileage whining. Were those glass bottles the primary fermenters?
 
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ramenth

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OK, drove 80 miles city after setting my timing back to 0 TDC per Calif smog rules. Now gets worse mileage, 10 MPG, harder to start and run cold. Does this make sense to anybody? Naturally I will advance the timing again, but have no good clue where the right spot might be.

Keep playing with it. Like I said, the car will have a happy spot. Advance a few degrees at a time.

Don't know if you answered this question already, but does the car have lean burn?

egodeath said:
Checked trans fluid level fine, clear. Could it really be trans causing a problem?

Nope. It was just a suggestion and a word of caution on maintenance. People have a habit of overlooking the trans for maintenance. And overlooking the trans for potential mileage gains.
 

Jack Meoff

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If you're timing chain is stretched then putting your timing at zero has in reality retarded the crap out it. I set mine by feel cause I'm pretty sure the accuracy of my timing mark went out the window years ago. The way I set both of mine up is
Keep advancing it in baby steps a squeak at a time, put it in drive, hold the brake and start leaning into the gas. Keep nudging it forward till you JUST START to here it knock under load. Nudge it back a squeak and you're done.
That works pretty well for me.
Like Robert said...
They all have a happy spot. You just gotta find it.
 
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Erics5th

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Very true on the "happy spot". Mine seems happy at 8BTDC. BUT, I have also played around with the advance (mechanical) in the distributor. Something you may want to do also.
 

YY1

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Out of the box solution I used to use while setting timing-

I used to pull up and touch the front bumper to a phone pole, then leave it in drive, and get out and load the engine while moving the dist.

Worked and saved a ton of time getting in, driving, stopping, getting out, repeating, etc.

I've also seen A LOT of sloppy timing chains get mis-diagnosed as carb issues.
 
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egodeath

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Right, will search for happy spot, but one question about Captian's "dyno check" method - is the vacuum advance disconnected?
 

Jack Meoff

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egodeath

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I just meant Captain's method of checking advance while running the motor in drive. True, not really dyno, sorry. Anyway, car is running nice with it advanced back to I don't know where, can't really tell the setting cause the marks are almost impossible to see. If mileage is still 12 then I'll get a 12-pack.
 
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Mroldart2u

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I just meant Captain's method of checking advance while running the motor in drive. True, not really dyno, sorry. Anyway, car is running nice with it advanced back to I don't know where, can't really tell the setting cause the marks are almost impossible to see. If mileage is still 12 then I'll get a 12-pack.


Does that mean if its getting 24mpg time for a case? :toothy6:
 

Jack Meoff

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I just meant Captain's method of checking advance while running the motor in drive. True, not really dyno, sorry. Anyway, car is running nice with it advanced back to I don't know where, can't really tell the setting cause the marks are almost impossible to see. If mileage is still 12 then I'll get a 12-pack.

With stretched timing chains, etc.
The only real timing trick is finding that sweet spot.
I like mine advanced as much I can get away with without knock.
Seems to like it.
Keep in mind though that I only run 91 octane.
 

BHA43

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I put a deal on my motor home that uses a Audi/VW knock sensor. When it senses a ping it lights a LED on the dash. I can see if I can find the name if interested. I think it was around $100 without the sensor.
 

Jack Meoff

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That's very cool.
In Egodeath's case I don't think he needs to go that route.
Just advance as far as it "wants" to go.
The first hill you hit, you're gonna know if you went too far.
I did the final timing tweak on the 5th ave in the beer store parking lot.
You hear a knock, squeak it back a smidge.
SWEET SPOT.
 

Shorty Thompson

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Hmm... maybe I'll try retarding the timing a little, supposed to be 0 TDC but I advanced it a little. Got rid of all the smog stuff I could (EGR), but in Calif the 1976 year is still smogged so can't do much.

Maybe I should just inflate my tires, an important guy said that works too.


Why do you have your timing set at 0 degrees timing ? Is this base timing ?
 
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