Hi Chris,

Thanks for your question. There is missing info that I need to give you the best feedback. I can tell you that you have way to much ignition advance. You should not run more than 30 degrees of total advance. If you have a digital timing light that is adjustable, I would get the car warmed up, run the motor up to 3,000 RPM and set the timing at 30 degree total. Let the idle come down and recheck the advance at idle. Ideally you would have 4-8 degrees advance at idle.

Your motor will like running with more advance, but it will cause it to run hotter. Make this adjustment and then do your test again.

I caution you on making multiple changes all at the same time. Doing one correction at a time will give you the confidence that you are heading in the right direction to finding a lasting cure!

The next thing I would need to know to help you would be what carburetor(s) you are running and what the RPM’s your are turning at the freeway speed you stated.

Hope this helps,

Andy

Hi Chris,

There is a chance that the overly high oil pressure caused the cooler to balloon, as you say. Really the only way to find out is to pull the cooler out and compare it to a good one.

As for the timing, the motor will make more power with the excessive timing, but with the fuel quality at the pump today, most likely you are experiencing some detonation. I would still recommend backing the timing back down to 30 degrees total and see if this helps.

Good luck,

Andy