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68 dart 318/904 dist recurve??

Posted By: Dakota_Don

68 dart 318/904 dist recurve?? - 09/25/09 04:43 PM

Hi all, I have the petronix ignitor II and coil w/o the ballast in my 68 dart. After playing with i have been getting better performance, but i think there is more in the old girl.

The engine is bone stock 41 yrs old. Would this engine benifit from a dist re-curve?

if so what would i need to do to find the sweet spot?

do i want it in early, or late?

the dist is an a-1 cardone reman..

what should i do first?

thanks
Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: 68 dart 318/904 dist recurve?? - 09/25/09 06:35 PM

some one suggested change the 1 heavy spring for a light one on a basic stock engine

I got a set with 2 light springs,but have not done anything yet,I dont fully understand the recurve deal on them

so I am interested in this also
Posted By: mr_340

Re: 68 dart 318/904 dist recurve?? - 09/26/09 01:10 AM

Quote:

some one suggested change the 1 heavy spring for a light one on a basic stock engine



I tried this on my Dart about 25 years ago. It made it sluggish. The heavy spring had a big loop to let the intial advance curve run on the light spring only, then when the heavy spring came into contact, a slower 2nd stage advance from there up to high RPM. For a small change, I'd try a lighter "light" spring. Years before that, I put the two super light DC springs into my 318 Fury and got instant detonation!
Posted By: MoparJoe

Re: 68 dart 318/904 dist recurve?? - 09/26/09 01:27 AM

It will help some, try shortening the amount of advance and using a little more initial timing, about 10* base, 34-35* max, if it has hwy gears and the stock cam, 2 barrel etc you can't go with too light of a spring or it will rattle.
Posted By: forphorty

Re: 68 dart 318/904 dist recurve?? - 09/26/09 02:03 AM

as a few others have mentioned, it's easy to run into detonation problems on a stock 318 if the advance curve is too fast. A stock torque converter and high rear gears will really lug a small motor like a 318. 40 years worth of carbon deposits in the combustion chambers doesn't help either. I think i would leave it alone until you are ready to swap in a cam and converter.
Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: 68 dart 318/904 dist recurve?? - 09/26/09 03:57 AM

Quote:

It will help some, try shortening the amount of advance and using a little more initial timing, about 10* base, 34-35* max, if it has hwy gears and the stock cam, 2 barrel etc you can't go with too light of a spring or it will rattle.

up the initial, shorten the slots for 35 & I would toss the heavy oe spring w the long loop and keep the stock light one and use a spring to replace it that is heavier than the very light ones in the MP cellophane pkg w the 2 light springs then adj the vac adv.
Posted By: Dakota_Don

Re: 68 dart 318/904 dist recurve?? - 10/02/09 03:52 PM

ok thanks, i will play with it, i have an old dist with wore out springs i may try..i have my intial set at 10 now, being that its NOT a performance engine i do not want the mech timing in to fast right?. Right now its slow on the advance..
Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: 68 dart 318/904 dist recurve?? - 10/02/09 08:55 PM

10BTDC would be a good ballpark initial for you. As said 35 total max (w vac disconnected) then play w the springs. I would toss the heavy one w the long loop, keep the oe light one & find one that is lighter than the oe heavy long loop one but heavier than the ones in the MP cellophane pkg. I have some from an old crane kit that included a yellow and an orange thick ones but it isn't available anymore but there has to be some selection available somewhere. EDIT pic added

Attached picture 5520613-distspringcurves002.jpg
Posted By: Dakota_Don

Re: 68 dart 318/904 dist recurve?? - 10/03/09 05:36 AM

thanks rapid
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