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C3 Corvettes, 1968 - 1982
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81 distributor

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Old

Apr 2, 2017 | 08:29 PM

#1

2tone81

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From: Hart Michigan

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81 distributor

Can the distributor in a 1981 be recurved?

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Old

Apr 2, 2017 | 09:00 PM

#2

Big2Bird

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 2tone81

Can the distributor in a 1981 be recurved?

No. The timing is set by the ECM. The dizzy has no springs and weights.

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Old

Apr 2, 2017 | 09:38 PM

#3

CA-Legal-Vette

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From: Scottsdale Arizona

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Bird is correct. What you can do is advance the base timing. Can't do it nearly as well as if you were doing it with a recurve, but you can wake it up a little. On my 81, I advanced it until I got surging at hiway speed and then backed it off a few degrees.

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Old

Apr 2, 2017 | 09:47 PM

#4

Big2Bird

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Quote:

Originally Posted by CA-Legal-Vette

Bird is correct. What you can do is advance the base timing. Can't do it nearly as well as if you were doing it with a recurve, but you can wake it up a little. On my 81, I advanced it until I got surging at hiway speed and then backed it off a few degrees.

Do you remember approx. how much?

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Old

Apr 2, 2017 | 09:57 PM

#5

terry82

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From: columbia city in

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every car may be a little different.bump it up 2 degreess.drive for a little bit and see how the motor likes it.then try another 2 degrees.you will find the sweet spot .

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Old

Apr 3, 2017 | 04:03 AM

#6

Antz81

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From: Auckland

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I'm running 12* initial with no problems. I believe sensei was at 14* when he had his.

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Old

Apr 3, 2017 | 10:29 AM

#7

CA-Legal-Vette

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From: Scottsdale Arizona

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Big2Bird

Do you remember approx. how much?

Short answer is no. Antz answer seems reasonable but I can't remember that far back. I like Terry's 2 degree increment idea.

Last edited by CA-Legal-Vette; Apr 3, 2017 at 10:29 AM.

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Old

Apr 3, 2017 | 09:53 PM

#8

Big2Bird

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Thank you all.

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