Ensuring your Ford Cougar runs smoothly often comes down to proper ignition timing. If you suspect your Cougar Car is experiencing timing issues, this guide will walk you through some troubleshooting steps, particularly if you’re using a Pertronix ignition system. Let’s get your classic Cougar purring again.
Checking for Timing Issues with a Timing Light
A timing light is an essential tool for diagnosing ignition problems. To begin, connect the timing light clamp to the coil wire. To keep the light flashing continuously for easy observation, secure the trigger with a zip-tie. Position the timing light where you can easily see it while starting and operating the engine – resting it on the windshield wiper or fender works well.
Start your Cougar car and put it in gear. Observe the timing light. If the flashing stops or becomes erratic, this indicates the ignition is cutting out, signaling a timing issue that needs attention.
Addressing High Idle and Carburetor Adjustments
An excessively high idle in your Cougar car can often be linked to both carburetor and ignition timing problems. Before diving deeper into timing, it’s worth noting that carburetor adjustments may be necessary in conjunction with timing adjustments to achieve a smooth idle and optimal performance.
Finding True Top Dead Center (TDC)
To accurately assess your Cougar car’s timing, it’s crucial to verify the balancer reading. Using a piston stop to locate “true” Top Dead Center (TDC) is a recommended step. Once TDC is established, mark the zero position on your balancer. A dial-back timing light can then be used to chart your timing without vacuum advance interference, providing a precise baseline.
Initial Timing and Vacuum Advance Considerations
Begin by disconnecting and plugging the vacuum advance line. Check the initial timing of your Cougar car. If the throttle is open enough at idle to create vacuum in the ported vacuum line, and your distributor is set to what seems like correct initial timing, putting the car in gear might cause a vacuum drop. This drop could retard the vacuum advance to a point where the timing is significantly less than ideal at idle, leading to performance issues.
For setting your initial timing, a good starting point is between 12 and 18 degrees. A practical method to fine-tune initial timing is to adjust it to the maximum advance your Cougar car can handle without experiencing hard starting when hot. Start with a higher initial timing, and then, after running the engine to full temperature, shut it off for a brief heat soak (5-10 minutes). Attempt to restart the hot engine. If you feel a “push back” sensation during starting, reduce the initial timing by a couple of degrees until hot starting is smooth. This point will be your optimized initial timing setting.
For total timing, engines in Cougar cars often perform best with 34 to 38 degrees of total timing. Remember that total timing is the sum of your initial timing and the mechanical advance curve range. Therefore, if you set your initial timing at 14 degrees and aim for 36 degrees total, you’ll need a 22-degree range in your distributor’s mechanical advance curve. Ideally, the mechanical advance should be fully engaged (maxed out) between 2400 and 3200 RPM.
Vacuum advance plays a crucial role in part-throttle efficiency. For Cougar cars with properly set initial and mechanical timing, a vacuum advance of 8 to 12 degrees is generally sufficient. Avoid vacuum advance canisters that provide excessive advance (20-25 degrees), as these are typically designed for late 1970s emission-controlled engines with low compression. Many vacuum advance units are adjustable. For those that aren’t adjustable to a lower range, consider using a GP Sorensen VCF-408 (or a cross-reference equivalent), which is known for its adjustability down to zero vacuum advance. Vacuum advance is vital for fuel efficiency during cruising, as it allows for more advanced timing under light throttle conditions, promoting better combustion in the less dense air/fuel mixture. Street-driven Cougar cars greatly benefit from having a functioning vacuum advance system.
Final Timing Adjustments for Your Cougar
To summarize the timing adjustments for your Cougar car: first, accurately locate true TDC. Then, aim for an initial timing of around 14 degrees, a total timing of 34 degrees, and a vacuum advance of approximately 10 degrees. Once these timing parameters are set, you can proceed with carburetor adjustments and further fine-tuning to optimize your Cougar’s overall engine performance and efficiency.
