Have a 1970 200 ci with 10,000 original miles...getting engine ping when I step a little harder on the gas or going up a hill. Set the timing to factory specs — same issue. I’ve been moving the distributor a tiny bit, driving it, moving it again when I hear the pinging. The pinging still happens. I’ve disconnected the 2 vacuum lines and plugged them and it still pings. I’m using 89 octane gas. I assume the pinging can hurt the motor at some point. Any suggestions. Thanks! Any Maverick experts in the Rhode Island area?
I’m pretty sure it’s not an exhaust leak. Good thought though. I remember I had a car that pinged when I was a kid, the sound is pretty distinct to me.
Check to see if the mechanical and vacuum advance mechanisms in the distributor are still working. Also, running lean will cause pinging. Make sure your carb is clean and the filter is not plugged. A malfunction EGR will do this also, but I'm assuming there was not one installed in 1970. I had a 250 that I put a Weber on. Ran it lean for too ling. She pinged under load. I destroyed the valve guides. Micah
Agreed. If you're not checking amount of advance at various RPMs, you're flying blind. Do to age deterioration, it's common on V8 for dist to loose the rubber bushing that limits amount of mechanical advance. I dunno if this applies to 6cyl. (I'll check innards of 6 dist) If you're just puttin around, may need an Italian tuneup. A few full throttle runs through the gears is all that's needed. Conversely can run a can of Seafoam through carb while engine is running.
One other thought, some of these distributors came with a vacuum advance and a vacuum retard. I had one on my '71 170. I would confirm that your connections are correct. I believe retard was a manifold and the advance was a carburetor source. Micah
