<VV> Alternatives Re: Turbo retard unit adjustment, is there such a thing?

[FrankCB at aol.com]

Carlton,
     Some of us with turbovairs use "electronic  knock eliminators" that 
simply "listen" for pings/knocks in the engine and  automatically and 
instantly retard the ignition timing as necessary to eliminate  the knock just as 
done by modern computer-controlled ignitions.  Mine is a  Carter Engine Knock 
Eliminator that I got many years ago from Clark's.   With this unit I 
installed a stock Corvair vacuum advance from a  NON-turbocharged Corvair.  So I 
have vacuum advance that works just fine  when the engine is NOT on boost as 
well as a timing retard setup that  works when the engine is boosted.
     And even better system is the SafeGuard unit  specifically setup for 
your Corvair that electronically retards only the  timing on the cylinder 
that needs it and has a driver display available that  shows when and how much 
the timing is being retarded.  It's offered by  Ray Sedman at his 
American-Pi site:
        _http://www.american-pi.com/corvair/corvhome.html_ 
(http://www.american-pi.com/corvair/corvhome.html) 
 
The SafeGuard with display is particularly useful for setting up your  
carburetion and timing as well as adding improvements like water  injection 
 
Frank "stock is a good beginning" Burkhard
Boonton, NJ 
 
 
In a message dated 5/6/2012 12:09:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
carlton55 at comcast.net writes:

I have  been curious for awhile about the specifications for the turbo  
retard
units. The Ignition Spark Curve Chart in Service News 1962 to the  1965
chassis manual are the same indicating the pressure retard starting  0°@ 2
psi and Full Retard (+ engine) at 12°@ 4.5 psi. However, in 1966  this
changed to 0°@ 2.25 psi with Full Retard (+ engine) of 8°@ 3.62 psi.  I
cannot find that GM published an updated Ignition Spark Curve chart in  
1966,
yet the specs did change on the pressure retard unit. The mechanical  
advance
specs stayed the same. As far as I am aware the 65 and 66 180 hp  engines
were identical. But obviously GM changed the pressure retard specs.  on the
final year probably for a reason. As far as I know the pressure  retard
units, on the late models 65-66 units were the same with the 250  stamped on
the actuating arm. So how does one adjust the pressure retards  to the last
66 specification? I would think this difference would greatly  affect
detonation prevention.

Carlton Smith
Indianapolis,  IN
Circle City Corvairs Club
1965 Corsa 180hp Turbo  Convertible

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