1970 Dodge Dart 318 Distirbutor

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PikaPhantom

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Hi all
I am currently running the stock smog distributor on a 318 without smog equipment which was removed before I had the car. I was wondering if it would be worth it to have it recurved, get a new one, or just leave it alone.
thanks
 
You should have it curved just a bit more aggressive. But heck if it runs fine leave it alone.
 
As I've posted before, FBO's slot limiter is clever but is not the best way to set it up. The better way to do it without a Sun machine and springs is simply weld up the inside of the slots and reset the initial timing. This returns most early smogged curves to a presmogged setup.
318 is pretty efficient engine at lower rpms so not going to need as much advance at low rpm as a cammed motor. Don't think your going to be looking at a major difference - unless maybe it had one of the funky advance solenoids on it.

Here's a graph to illustrate both points made above.
Timing for a '68 318 without CAP vs a the timing for a manual w/ CAP.
1. There's not much difference. Mostly in the beginning. From 1400 rpm up its the same.
2.a Shortening the outside of the cam slots stops the secondary curve before its fully advanced. When the initial is reset, the whole curve may be too early. Then you have to monkey around with the springs or there may be part throttle pinging, etc.
b. Shortening the inside slots means the timing will look pretty much like the non-smogged when the intial is set around 5*. Done.

318-Timing-Manual-1968.png

Note: 1970 CAP/CAS curve may be different than '68
 
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If you need it recurved, send it to halifaxhops, he's done a few for me and they run great...
Thanks! Matt as you know I am not a big fan of welding the slots up. For me I am lucky and have a lot of parts around and like to use the right advance plates. Don't get me wrong the fbo plates are pretty cool.
 
Thanks! Matt as you know I am not a big fan of welding the slots up. For me I am lucky and have a lot of parts around and like to use the right advance plates. Don't get me wrong the fbo plates are pretty cool.
I know. And you're in a position where you rarely would have to.
If FBO made their plates the other way, that would be all most people need if they wanted to do it themselves.
Remember when Don first starting pushing his distributor curves and boxes and said not to use vacuum advance? I always wondered why. Now, I'm pretty sure this is why. He limited the wrong end of the curve and when set to a nice initial, in many cases there was too much timing at mid rpms to work with vac advance.
 
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