Topic: how to adjust timing

[bhorrocks]

Hi all,
 I have a 289 2 barrel mustang. I have a manual tranny as well. In the book it states to due the following and wanted to see the easiest way that you all due this. I am have never done this before so looking for any tips.

vacuum advance
 at idol with vacuum advance disconnected set at 6 degrees.
Now when I connect the vacuum back up what should I set the advance at when running at 2000 rpm. according to the book it says 12-14 degrees.

So I put the timing light on spark plug wire one. Then I test the first one. When I need to adjust I turn the distrubtor to get the 6 degrees. Now that I have set the distrubtor. Do I rev the motor to 2000 and set the vacuum advance by adjusting with an allen key inside the diaphragm?

Please let me know the best way.

Thank you

[Soaring]

Get a bottle of liquid paper or use a Q-Tip with some white paint on it and paint the pointer tip on the timing chain cover, and the 6 degree mark on the balancer.  Plug up the vacuum line to the distributor.  A screw just slightly larger than the inside diameter of the hose works fine.  Hook up your timing light to the number one piston which is the front piston on the left as you look at the motor from the front of the car.  Loosen the nut on the hold-down on the distributor and start the engine.  As you point the timing light with the trigger on at the pointer, turn the distributor until it stops at 6-8 degrees.  Turn off the engine and tighten the hold down.   Hook the vacuum line back up to the distributor. Take your timing light off, and you are done.  You don't need to do anything else.  If you still have points, you may want to reset them, but you need to get a pertronix electronic ignition if you don't already have one.   They are like 70 bux and well worth the investment. 

[bhorrocks]

Great Thank you. Now when you where talking about upgrading the points. I saw two pertronix I could buy. One is the ignitor I and the other is the ignitor II. Which one should I purchase? Also do I need to buy the flamethrower coil as well?

[Soaring]

Buy the ingitor I.  You don't need to upgrade the coil. 

[bhorrocks]

thanks again. i will try and pick up this week and install. Looks pretty easy.

[Soaring]

It's very easy, just follow the simple directions.  Good luck with it, and let us know how she runs after the upgrade. 

[bhorrocks]

Hey glen,
 I bought the ignitor kit. Do I need to worry about the resistor they are talking about? Or just take out the guts and put in the new parts.

[Soaring]

Just take out the points and condenser, and put in the new pertronix.  I used shrink wrap tubing to seal the wiring and it worked great. 

[bhorrocks]

thank again glen,
 I will let you know how it goes over the weekend when I do the conversion

Can't wait
 Brian

[bhorrocks]

Hook up was a snap. Now when the car runs it smells very rich and more smoke then before. I also pulled the plugs out and replaced them too. When I pulled them they where covered in carbon and a little wet around the threads. Do I need to just adjust the mixture screw or do I need to adjust the two front screws on the carb. I also know I will need to set the timing as well. Just wanted to know what to start with.

[Soaring]

The timing and the mixture screws on the carb have very little to do with the pertronix.  Set the timing at about 8-10 degrees BTDC and see how it runs then.  When you had points, everytime you moved the timing, you had to re-adjust the points.   Well, the Pertronix automatically adjusts itself.