1951 Pontiac Chieftain

[PhilA]

I know that's the case with older bikes these days due to the petrol being so different to what was sold when they were new. Probably the same reason?

This has such low compression (6.3:1) by modern standards that it'll run on virtually anything.

The distributor is clamped into a little pointer mechanism, which has a crudely calibrated 15 degrees either side of the zero mark so you can set the timing easily. That was called the octane adjustment in the manual.

I have to watch out because it'll ping under heavy load on a hot day unless I really bring the timing back, more a worry because I have alloy pistons in it.

Fuel injection has something to be said for it...

[paulplom]

Could you not rig a string and pulley system around the distributer so you can alter the timing from inside the cab as you drive along?

[Hooli]

Could you not rig a string and pulley system around the distributer so you can alter the timing from inside the cab as you drive along?

I had something similar with insulation tape around cooling hoses on a Mk2 Escort after the pinch bolt snapped & fell out while driving. Mine was self adjusting to random values though, but it did get me home.

[PhilA]

Could you not rig a string and pulley system around the distributer so you can alter the timing from inside the cab as you drive along?

You say that but it had come to mind to try something like that yes.

Phil

[paulplom]

Adjusting it on the fly. A bit like a modern ecu but using your ears as pink and knock sensors.

[mercrocker]

There's certainly room on the steering wheel -

ghostwheel.jpg (48.32 KiB) Viewed 741 times

[DodgeRover]

Could you not rig a string and pulley system around the distributer so you can alter the timing from inside the cab as you drive along?

You say that but it had come to mind to try something like that yes.

Phil

Shouldn't be too difficult to rig something with a cable and a suitable looking lever, I'm guessing once it's close only a very small adjustment is required?
Does it run vacuum advance?

[PhilA]

Shouldn't be too difficult to rig something with a cable and a suitable looking lever, I'm guessing once it's close only a very small adjustment is required?
Does it run vacuum advance?

It has vacuum advance, which has been tested to work.

I'm going to take a look at a way to set it on the fly after work today.

Phil

[PhilA]

There's no really easy way to get that into the cabin.
I'm just going to use my calibrated ear and the vacuum gauge to see how well it's in tune.

In other news I bought a little air compressor thing to pump the rear suspension up. First time it ran, up to 65psi and PAFFFFFFF the thing quit.

Took it apart out of curiosity, there was a chunk of plastic swarf in the cylinder which upset it and blew out the valve and seal.

That can go back then. Shame, bit of a poor design (no wrist pin) but offset by beautiful little needle roller bearings for the gears.

A really strange designed-by-committee affair

[DodgeRover]

Bet it was built by those commies wouldnt have happened if it was made in the USA or Great Britain