On Tue, 27 Feb 1996, Bob Hamilton wrote:
> Alpiners,
>
> On the '53 Alpine I have there is an "I" button on the dashboard
> that connects via a cable to an arm on the distributor to change the
> ignition timing "on the run", and this is in addition to the regular
> centrifugal and vacuum advances built into the distributor. The information
> I have on these cars does not explain how this is set up or how to use it.
>
> I presently have it set up so the timing is as it should be at idle
> (British - tickover) with the vacuum hose disconnected and knob pushed in.
> Now if I pull this "I" knob all the way out, it advances the ignition I
> would guess about 10 degrees. It is obvious that this feature is to adjust
> the ignition when pulling hard up a hill or for that "head jerking
> acceleration", HA!. The question is, do I want to retard the spark or advance
> it under these driving conditions. I await replies.
>
> Regards,
> Bob
I can just imagine Grace Kelly adjusting her timing.
If this is in addition to other controls, I would assume it is an in
cockpit version of the vernier adjust available on other british cars of
the era. You advance it until the car "pinks" too much, then back it off
a bit. If you had this car in an area where gas quality varied from stop
to stop, this would be very handy. "Whoa! Got a bad batch back there,
better back off on the timing a bit."
For it to work this way, however, you would want the timing to be at
specs at idle with the control in its mid range; this would let you
advance or retard from normal. As it is now, you can only advance, which
won't help if you get low octane gas.
Reminds me of my model A. Centrifugal advance? Ha! Vacuum advance?
Ha! Don't need those when you have a nice lever right there on the
steering column.
Ray
Ray Gibbons Dept. of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
Univ. of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
gibbons(at)northpole.med.uvm.edu (802) 656-8910
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