Not 100 percent clear, please help

[FeistyFesti]

I've been reading all the stuff on this forum about setting timing on the Festy, but I'm just not 100 percent clear on what is being said. I keep reading in the Haynes manual that on 88 and 89 models, to ground the single wire connector to the engine and unplug some vacuum lines from the disty, but I'm not 100 percent sure if that is only for carbed Festies or not. It doesn't clarify in the manual. Also, when it says to ground the connector to the engine, does it mean to just connect a jumper wire to the connector and the other end of the jumper to ground? I've used the search function but I'm just not totally clear on the wording. Thanks for clearing this up. I have an 89 L with efi.

[FeistyFesti]

Well I figured this out today, its just as the manual says, ground the black connector and then set the timing. The car runs a lot better now, much more pep.

[FestYboy]

i take it you set the timing at 0* TDC. i've had luck with 10* BTDC and running premium (got 5 MPG more on average)

[FeistyFesti]

I turned it clock wise until it pinged a lot, and backed off of it til it stopped pinging. It is running so much better right now. I have to replace the cam and crankshaft seal so I'll set it to 14 degrees when I clean up everything down there.

[FestYboy]

NO!!! 14 is too much! 10 on 93 octane was about the limit when mine was running the b3. any more and it ran like crap. trust me when i say that 0* on 87 is good and you'll get good milage with that setting. you'll lose milage with other settings.

[FeistyFesti]

Thanks for the tip, I'll set it to ten when I finish the crank seal.