Shocking recovery of my 5kS

["G. Benedikt Rochow" <rochow@segsrv.hlo.dec.com>]

My '84 5kS, which, after initially running fine 
after somewhat involved vacuum advance replacement,
quit after a bit more fiddling with the distributor,
rides again. Naturally, not by any dterministic repair
method, but surprisingly during diagnostics (checking for spark): 
I took a new 3-electrode spark plug I hadn't installed yet,
unplugged the nearest plug wire (the one with the torn boot),
plugged it onto that new plug, held it to the engine for grounding,
and my wife cranked the car, as agreed, for less than a second.
First I saw it spark, and then I saw sparks, as the car started
and continued to run (and "get spark" just fine) and I got 
400 shockspm from one hand to the other (I guess I was leaning
on the crossmember with my left hand, while I had picked up
my right, with the plug wire, unable to let go. Nicely enough,
my wife's reflexes are a lot better than mine, and she turned it
off very quickly once I manged to start yelling (which took me several
seconds).
I have no explanation for it running now other than "I threatened
to take it apart", which happens to be the explanation for
many thing I fix....

As far as the vacuum advance goes, I can't really
tell much yet; it runs very smoothly, but it did so before,
too - not driving it for more than a week, I can't compare
it well (though I guess I could plug the vac. hose and 
compare, then). Or I'll just see how gas mileage does.

I'm rather willing to follow Huw's suggestions for timing
advance, but jut how does pinging sound on this car?
(I haven't heard a car ping in about 10 years, and
my exhaust ist still rather loud...I wonder if I should
try this at all before getting it quieter.)


-gbr