DeTomaso Mailing List: April 99, Message #21

Can you run with no vac-advance? Yes, but the distributor needs to be set up
on a dist-machine (off the car) to work right. For your 351C, a decent
starting point is 12 degrees initial, 16 degrees centrifugal and 10 degrees
ported vacuum advance. for an absolute max of 38 degrees total advance (all
the advances are additive). Most 351Cs will make more power with less total
advance than this, and will start harder with more intial advance than this.
Some aftermarket vac-advance units have a setscrew adjustment inside the vac-
hose connection, for 'trimming' the amount of vac advance. I use a full-
centrifugal Accel distributor (no vac advance) but its set up to work that
way. Plenty power & 18-20 mpg at ridiculous speeds. My 2¢- J DeRyke