<VV> boost-retard availability

[FrankCB at aol.com]

Mark,
 
You're lucky to have found an "advance-retard" unit.  I assume you  mean a 
replacement for the original stock "pressure retard" unit that had NO  
vacuum advance but only pressure retard and connected into the side of the stock  
distributor.  I also assume that your newly acquired "advance-retard" unit  
has both vacuum advance and pressure retard.  Clarks, until recently, had  
those available, but now they are apparently out.  If mechanical means are  
no longer available, then it's necessary to go to electronic  control.  On 
the 180 I've used a stock Corvair  95 hp or 110  hp vacuum advance unit to 
provide the vacuum advance with an electronic unit for  the boost/pressure 
retard.  The electronic retard I used was a  Carter Engine Knock Eliminator 
that used to be available from Clarks and had a  pickup that screwed into the 
top of the 1965 180 engine shroud and "heard"  knocking so it could 
electronically retard the spark to all the cylinders  until the knock disappeared.  
But I don't see these listed in the current  Clarks catalog.
Ray Sedman, at _www.American-Pi.com_ (http://www.American-Pi.com)  
currently offers  SafeGuard, a more sophisticated electronic retard unit that 
retards EACH  cylinder individually as necessary and also offers an optional 
display for  the dash that indicates just how much retard is being given at any  
moment.  This can be especially useful if you're integrating "enhacements"  
like water injection into your engine operation.
As indicated in my chapter on Turbocharging in the Corvair Basics Manual,  
adding vacuum advance to a turbo Corvair enhances operation in at least 2  
areas.  First, it improves off-idle and part  throttle response   Second, it 
significantly improves gas mileage  for cars driven in non-boost operation 
like driving in traffic.   Based on my experience driving my 180 to work 
every day, you should easily see  20+% improvement in gas mileage.  After all, 
EVERY Corvair EXCEPT  turbo models had vacuum advance.
Let us know how it works out for you.
Frank "if it don't go, BLOW it" Burkhard  


 
In a message dated 3/1/2011 6:29:34 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
Markpowhatan at aol.com writes:

I am in  need of a new boost-retard for my 63 Spyder, and was surprised  
when  I was told by 2 big suppliers that none are available anymore, with  
not  
much chance of them being available again soon.  The new   "advance-retard" 
units were not available either.  I have  since  been lucky and found a NOS 
one 
I could purchase from a person's   personal parts supply.   If the supplies 
of them dry up, what  could a  person do to correct the timing issue 
related 
to turbo  boost?  Any  ideas?   Thanks!  Mark Francis   63  Spyder
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