which direction advances the ignition timing?

[berlinabeast]

How to Improve Car Engine Performance for Free | eHow.com,

I own a 1987 holden berlina (2.0litre 6 cylinder) weird i know lol but it's one owner from new, low k's...But that's beside the point. As everyone know's vl's lack some kick. Just wondering on some tips to increase the hp and k's to a tank.

I read the above article and just wondering if this is possible? and what are the recomended mm to advance the timing without going to far and damaging my engine.

Lol anyone know of anyone service manuals online for the vl berlinas? can't find one for my model anywhere

[Panama]

ive advanced my 3.0l cam one tooth and the distributor is retarded all the way but still runs one degree in advance.

cam and distributor are advanced by turning them clockwise whilst the engine is not running. retard them by turning them anti-clockwise.

hope this helps

[berlinabeast]

Cheers man that did help alot, is there any precautions or recomended mm advanced?

I read if you have advanced it to far you will here a sort if 'pinging' noise, and retard it back straight away as this method can really destroy your engine if not done properly.

Is there a rule of thumb on how far to advance? abit hairy on this because i run a 1998c 6 cylinder (weird i know can get photos to proove).

[Panama]

well if you retard the dizzy all the way and only advance the cam one tooth it should be fine. i dont think the capacity should effect the result of advancing it.

when it's idling, you tune it to perhaps one degree more than the manual says then it should be safe enough.

[berlinabeast]

Ah ok sweetas, will attempt this over the weekend and post back with whats going on *fingers crossed* lol

[Pimpn1]

sorry to go a bit off topic, but can i see picks of this vl, also where are you located??? this will be the first 2lt vl ive ever seen... thanxs

[berlinabeast]

Ah ok sweetas, will attempt this over the weekend and post back with whats going on *fingers crossed* lol

[Bax]

Looks the same, NZ got a heap of 2.0l VL's.

As far as timing goes, see if you can take it to a mechanic and get them to do it for you, from memory you can advance it quite a bit, I can't think of numbers off the top of my head, but you may have to run a higher octane fuel to combat pinging. If it does ping retard it.

And well, as far as the pinging noise goes. It's not really a high pitched 'ping' as such. You'll know it when you hear it. Just imagine your engine is about to die, and you can hear metal scraping and sounding terrible. Put it as something more like that and you're on the money.

[berlinabeast]

Hey i'm in new zealand (Christchurch), pictures will are coming soon, will grab my mates digital camera over the weekend and take some pictures.

Thanks for the advice guys, hey by any chance has anyone found any good service manuals for the vls? possibly the 87 year?

[Panama]

haynes or max ellery's

[berlinabeast]

Umm either one, im not fussy, lol as long as it can help me out with all the servicing etc of the car

[Panama]

i'd get them both they each have things that are missed in the other book if that makes sense

[ImAHoon!]

I have a max ellerys.

I think I've found two locations where huge bits are missing, and they're things that you really can't work out on your own, you just guess!

[berlinabeast]

lol im guessing you guys have purchased your copies then? can't seem to find any online

[Bax]

I had a gregories when I had mine.
Look on ebay sometimes you can get cheaper second hand copies.

[berlinabeast]

I had a gregories when I had mine.
Look on ebay sometimes you can get cheaper second hand copies.

Ahh good old ebay, like the manual i bought for my old kingswood before i sold it.

It turned up and it had all of 4 pages, the rest were ripped out :| still haven't heard back from that seller and it's been over 2 years lol.

Hrmm might just purchase one from a car part store in town.

Sure theres none online?

[rb26dett]

A 2 litre single cam 6 would be lacking in the go department.

I do not think advancing the timing would do a great deal for it.

[berlinabeast]

It does have some ass behind it, have done some weight reduction.

Have comfortable pulled a boat with it and still had some pull behind it.

Just looking to give it alittle extra grunt.

[cracker]

gee 2.0L vl....maybe look at a 3L convertion?

[starfire vc]

2lt vl's were exported and our mates over and nz got heaps of em. they were fitted with taller diff gears to make up for the lack of down low torque...as for ignition timming..set it at factory setting, the cars engine, computer is designed to run at a particular degree of timming.advancing it beyond what is recomended is asking for drama.and the small amount of power you may gain will be set back by pinging etc..