How to Build and Power Tune Distributor-type Ignition Systems

Hailing originally from New Zealand, Des Hammill is a professional engineer with many years of practical experience of building race-winning engines and solving technical problems. The author of several books in the SpeedPro series, Des writes in an easy to understand manner and gives step-by-step guidance. Des also takes his own photographs and creates his own line drawings.

Essential information 6 Using this book 7 Introduction 8 Ignition timing theory 10 Chapter 1. Modified engines often need higher ignition timing settings 15 Chapter 2. Static & idle speed ignition timing settings 17 Static ignition timing 17 Idle speed ignition timing 17 Idle ignition timing 18 Idle speeds 19 Identifying the amount of mechanical advance 20 Chapter 3. Estimating total advance settings 21 Combustion chamber shapes 24 Summary 27 Chapter 4. Vacuum advance 28 Vacuum advance take-off point location 29 Chapter 5. Ignition timing marks 32 Checking TDC markings 33 Marking crankshaft damper/pulley 33 Permanent advance degree marking 34 Chapter 6. Distributor basics 36 Distributor spindle 36 Drive gear 37 Endfloat/endplay 37 Contact breaker points 38 Condenser 38 Electronic module 38 Distributor cap 39 Rotor arm 39 Coils 39 Low voltage/'low energy' coil 39 High voltage/'low energy' coil 40 Ballast resisted coils 40 Electronic coils 41 Coil performance comparisons 42 Standard coil 42 Sports coil 43 Ballast resisted coils 44 Electronic coils 44 High tension coil and sparkplug wires 45 Checking HT wires 47 Sparkplugs 47 Dual point distributors 49 Aftermarket electronic distributors 51 Chapter 7. Altering the rate of mechanical advance (part 1) 53 Summary 55 Chapter 8. Altering advance mechanism to set total ignition timing 56 Reducing total mechanical advance 56 How much to limit advance 59 What happens if the distributor is not modified? 62 Chapter 9. Altering the rate of mechanical advance (part 2) 63 Establishing rate of advance 63 Altering the rate of advance 64 Chapter 10. Checking the quality of the spark 66 Wiring and connections 66 Alternator 66 Ignition switch 67 Check high tension current 67 Chapter 11. Establishing the correct idle advance 70 Chapter 12. Establishing ideal total ignition timing 73 Summary 75 Fuel octane ratings 76 Index 79