more timing talk

[kdanie]

Here's my view of timing: Your initial timing should be set where the engine needs it set, for a stock engine that is usually the factory recomendation. A degree or two more will not usually hurt depending on gas quality and engine condition. Timing is not set for cooling, it is set for effeciency. Max timing should be set for max effecency of a particualar engine configuration. Most VW enthusiasts don't even know how to set timing correctly!! The distributor must be modified (recurved) to get the timing set correctly and the rate of advance correct for each engine configuration. This is common knowlege in the real performance engine world but the VW world is still playing catch up.

Jake is the first VW engine builder I have heard to actually acknowlege the fact that there is significant power to be had with a correctly curved distributor. Most just slam in a 009 and set the max timing at 32 deg and call it good.....

OK, my rant is over....
ken