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Old 11-03-2011, 03:39 PM   #5
steve s
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 1,656
Default Re: Spark advance or Spark retard

Undoubtedly, retard the spark whenever the engine is laboring up a hill. Normally, you will hear the motor start to ping, knock, or make other unhappy noises like something going wrong (it is), and that's your signal to retard the spark, PRONTO! If you heard backfiring rather than knocking, I would wonder whether your car is tuned properly--even though you THINK it runs fine on the level. I would check the timing, plugs, and points, and carb float level.

But, retarding the spark on a hill is a short term fix. Like Tim said, running retarded for very long will overheat motor. Better to downshift into second, and just grind along at a lower speed. One of the aggravations with A's, is the gap between 2nd and 3rd. The motor will really be roaring at 25 mph in 2nd gear, but will labor and knock in the 25-35 mph range when pulling a steep hill in 3rd.

If still knocks in 2nd gear, then you need to downshift to low, which will require either some very accomplished double clutching or coming to a complete stop. And then you grind along at about 10-15 mph. This is why 4.11 rear ends were popular in the mountains and why the Mitchell gear-splitter OD unit is so appealing.

Steve

Last edited by steve s; 11-03-2011 at 03:54 PM.
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