Let's say for sake of argument that I have a 1725 that's running nice but occasionally stumbles and/or pops into the carbs a bit under load.
1. Checked the timing. It landed at 2.8 degrees BTDC (too retarded).
2. Checked carbs and found them to be out of balance. Got them synched and set the mixture according to WSM (deferring to forum suggestions for number of turns).
3. Car wouldn't start unless I set the timing at 22 degrees BTDC (way too advanced).
4. Put on Colortunes and got the front carb nice and bunsen blue. Couldn't get the back carb to blue.
5. Started the car again and it wouldn't start unless I set the timing at 35 degrees BTDC (way, way too advanced). Lots of backfiring, both exhaust and carbs.
6. Shut it down and got it to idle at 22 again. But at 22, the car was gutless. With any single-digit timing, the car won't even come close to starting.
Could it be the distributor? If the mechanical advance were sticking or otherwise not functioning properly, would it cause the variable timing (and the intermittent stumbling/backfiring that started this journey)?
1. Checked the timing. It landed at 2.8 degrees BTDC (too retarded).
2. Checked carbs and found them to be out of balance. Got them synched and set the mixture according to WSM (deferring to forum suggestions for number of turns).
3. Car wouldn't start unless I set the timing at 22 degrees BTDC (way too advanced).
4. Put on Colortunes and got the front carb nice and bunsen blue. Couldn't get the back carb to blue.
5. Started the car again and it wouldn't start unless I set the timing at 35 degrees BTDC (way, way too advanced). Lots of backfiring, both exhaust and carbs.
6. Shut it down and got it to idle at 22 again. But at 22, the car was gutless. With any single-digit timing, the car won't even come close to starting.
Could it be the distributor? If the mechanical advance were sticking or otherwise not functioning properly, would it cause the variable timing (and the intermittent stumbling/backfiring that started this journey)?