NA I5 ignition timing

[Graham Thackrah]

Hi List,

Just thought I'd share this, my 90q has been suffering from pinking at high
revs and wide throttle openings:) so today I was going to try and set the
timing using some lights, as I'd already replaced the vacuum advance unit. The
lights I borrowed didn't have the correct fitting for my plugs so I just
retarded the distributor by what seemed to be a "nadge". Tried it and it seems
to have solved it, no pinking and much more willing to rev round the dial. It
hit 100 pretty easily, which it didn't do before... though obviously not on the
public highway.

I was surprised to notice it being quicker, can performance be degraded
noticably by having too much advance as well as too little? I'm probably going
to get some proper timing lights of my own after Christmas sometime to re-check
it properly. Anyone know the correct advance at idle for 97 rather than 98
octane that I'd need for UK LRP/super unleaded?

Graham.