Yet another of the excellent 'SpeedPro' series, written by Des Hammill, whose increasing output on Engine tuning is fast becoming one of the most respected by enthusiasts. His recently printed 4-Cylinder Short Block for High Performance is already a minor classic in its field, so this one comes with a high pedigree. This book covers the mysterious world of Ignition Systems - an essential but often overlooked area of tuning an engine which can optimise power. It's probably one of the least understood and most ignored parts of the engine system, but based on the expert practical experiences of the author, it can really help you get the very most out of your Mini engine; be it racer, road or rebuilt. Covering conventional distributor systems, it won't help anyone with an ECU, so chips and remapping are NOT covered.
The review is from an amateur viewpoint - and after you have started this, you will realise just how much you can learn, and benefit!
First Impressions:
Slimmer than some (64pp) it is nonetheless packed with photos, illustrations
and facts from start to finish. The reader is taken through the basics in a
clear and progressive manner, with heavy emphasis on use of the photos to
illustrate the points made. And it certainly covers a lot of 'new'
ground - new, that is, to the average enthusiast, who by the end will have
the facts to really make the most of the ignition system, tailored exactly
as needed. It doesn't mess around, you are taken through the areas
required - yes, springs, plates, degree marking, the lot.
Section Contents:
Essential Information and Introduction (4pp)
Basic safety and general.Modified Engines need more Static/Idle Speed Advance (2pp)
Well, that's a clear enough heading...Establishing Static/Idle Speed Advance Setting (2pp)
Straight into it, then!Estimating Total Advance Settings (5pp)
Shows different combustion chamber shapes, and their specific requirements.Vacuum Advance (4pp)
All about it, and why.Ignition Timing Marks (4pp)
Shows a simple and clear method in full detail - the best I have seen.Distributor Basics (15pp)
Identify and check condition of what you have - right down to spark pictures and cable resistance checks.Altering the Rate of Mechanical Advance, Part 1 (3pp)
Clearly shows what to change - move over, Aldon.Altering advance Mechanism to Set Total Advance (8pp)
It is made clear and simple, with a clear and clever way to check; again considerably aided by the pictures.Altering the Rate of Mechanical Advance, Part 2 (3pp)
Method and tuning.Checking the Quality of Spark (3pp)
Just like it says, including electronic distributors.Establishing the Correct Amount of Idle Advance (2pp)
Establishing the Correct Amount of Full Advance (2pp)
The logical conclusions, set for your specific engine, and including how to check it all on a rolling road.
Verdict:
If you are serious about setting up and tuning your Mini, then you really
should get this book. It gets right down to it right away. From the start
it just shows and tells the things to do, and straightforwardly how to do
them. And the way it is written doesn't hurt your brain too much, either.
With some of the companion volumes from this series, and by the same
expert author, you will have built an engine to be proud of.
I'm not aware of any other title that covers this area so well, so clearly
and concisely. An essential purchase.
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Copyright © 1998, Greg Fripp - validated (3.2s)