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[Guest]

From: William
Email:
Date: 10 Mar 2000
Time: 17:17:43

Well I don't have the tools for timing and the Porsche mechanic I know is in another town and way too expensive, but I noticed the nut was loose to the distributor and totally retarded clockwise, so I turned it just a bit counter clockwise until car ran very smooth!
Is this okay? My dad says I will need to run 89 or better gas because he said it will probably ping.

[Guest]

From: Webmeister
Email: webmeister@924.org
Date: 10 Mar 2000
Time: 17:33:30

You got it!! I'm sure you are ver close. BTW, all you need is a $25 timing light to 'time it'. Nothing exotic or special cause its a Porsche.

Email me with the year of your car and I will look up the timing spec for you. Where are you located?

John

[Guest]

From: Fredrik
Email: i97lafr@itek.chalmers.se
Date: 10 Mar 2000
Time: 17:56:32

Nice to hear that you got this problem sorted out!

True, it is indeed possible to get a near-perfect timing setting without using the proper stroboscope lamp, although in my experience you may loose a couple of hp by not having the timing 100% correct.

John is absolutely right - the fact that it is a Porsche does not make the ignition system different from other cars, and hence you do not need to consult a Porsche mechanic to set the timing.

/Fredrik

[Guest]

From: Richard Graeber
Email: aminolabs@yahoo.com
Date: 13 Mar 2000
Time: 04:25:02

There is a relationship between the octane of the fuel and the advance of the spark
timing. The real answer is: as advanced as possible without causing the engine to
"ping." The higher the octane the greater the advance. Racing cars burning 105
octane fuel will be in the 20+ range. Gasoline Drier (methanol) is an inexpensive
octane boost. I knew this old time country mechanic that would time an engine by
setting the distributor and accellerate up a hill. He would continue to advance the
engine until it would ping. Then adjust it back 1 degree. None of his customers ever
complained.