retarded timing question

[waggin'ear]

Now that it's warming up. My wag is running a little hotter and is pinging under load. It's not very hot, but apparently hot enough to promote pre-ignition. I have all the appropriate cooling items. I only run 93 octane. And don't have any emissions stuff hooked up.

I have the timing set at about 8 BTDC now.

My question is, is there any harm in retarding my timing just to stop the pinging? How far back can I safely set it?

If there are any other suggestions I am very open.

[Don S]

..
waggin'ear...
... I would back the timing for sure as the pre-detonation will/can cause fatal damage to the engine.

... I’ve been using upper-lubes for over 50 years and they can help cure the ping problem. The idea described in the link below has worked wonders for me over the years. If you have short runs with a cold engine it may take a little longer to work. It doesn’t cost much…
FUEL TANK ADDITIVES
http://groups.msn.com/ATexasOklahomaJeepClub/ouraycotopic.msnw
http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=010756
Carbon build-up can glow and cause the fuel mix to fire early. Harsh treatments for removing carbon could create a problem with the rings. I have used the sudden water and the sudden ATF treatments with no harm but never again. Once I learned all the benefits of using 2 cycle Out Board oil as an upper-lub It just dosn’t let the carbon form.

Good Luck ;) and CUL.. Don S..

[Bob Barry]

If you're adventurous, here's another option I've been mulling over for a temporary ignition retard for the Duraspark II-equipped trucks. The white wire to the ignition box retards the ignition when starting up; there's no reason I can see that you can't switch power to that wire while the truck is running to pull back the timing as long as the switch is depressed. You may need to add a diode to the other wire before the splice, so it's not backfeeding 12V to the starting circuit (what that white wire is normally fed by). But the capability is already there.

[waggin'ear]

Thanks guys,

Don I'll definitely try the 2-cycle

Bob, do you know how far back the timing is retarded by that switch? That sounds like a cheap alternative to an MSD adjustable system.

[Bob Barry]

I don't know how much it retards the timing. I don't know of anyone who has exploited that feature, so it's still in the experimental stage. Best way would be to check the actual retard with a timing light.

[Serious Johnson]

I just can't figure out why these things ping in the first place. They run what, 7.5:1 compression? How in hell could something like that running within 30% of stoic and tiny advance experience preignition? Are there horrific hot spots in the combustion chamber?

Inquiring asses want to know.

:-