Reply to "spark knock dist. position"

You are still slightly confused; draging starter is too much initial, adding advance makes it worse.

If your initial is too advanced, but the final is right, consider opening up the span on the final and retard the whole distributer to reduce the initial and get the final back where it was, instead of playing fighter pilot.

Alternatively, you may have too much vac advance; the dashpot should be adjustable. If its adding 15-20 degrees that may be too much...10-15 may be more suitable.

Are you sensing ported or manifold vacuum?[/QUOTE] No vacuum, all centrifical.. OK, I just got back from a test drive...under heavy load 3500 rpm uphill ...I can set the knob in the center and it eliminates spark knock, and it starts ok in that position. I would suspect that if I had better fuel I could advance a bit and if I have less octane I could reduce it from the Fighter Pilots cockpit!