Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

As I do not have a 6 volt strobe light to set timing with on my '53 327 I dug into the literature on this site to establish how to do it with a circuit testing light as I did on my brother's Model A.
The attached is directly from the Service Manual but thought it would be handy to share with all of you in a one sheet reference for your shop notes.
As poorly set timing can cause the engine to run hot as well as make it sound like you have a low battery when starting it is good to have it set per manufacturer's specs.
I titled it for 1951-54 engines as that was the range for the manual, and in checking the data sheet, all engines made in those years used the same setting for advance.
Thanks.
Bob J.

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1951-54 Packard Ignition Timing.pdf Size: 360.36 KB; Hits: 37

Tho' Packard's new 356 initially called for 4 degrees BTDC, it was soon revised to 6. But several of us with such engines are running 9, even 10 before top dead center retaining easy starting hot or cold with no pinging. Today's gas, ethanol aside, is streets ahead of the swill around when our cars new.

Don't recall what my '40 120's 282 and '51 200's 288 set at, but am sure they were advanced a bit and started "on the button" (or at accelerator tap).

In the day, you wanted to advance your timing until your engine just started to ping when "crowding" it, accelerating uphill at 35 in high gear.