The map sensor that you have to buy with the crane ignition to retard timing dependent on boost only goes up to 15 psi. I want more than that so it looks like I am going to go with something else.

Heres the link so you can see it.. http://howell.mountain.net/CraneProducts/hi6di2a.htm

You only need to retard up to 15psi. The stock ignition takes over and does a fine job above that. It's just between 8 and 15psi we need help. Perhaps someone can give a more technical explanation as to why this is.

think about it hrc rs use the crane with the map sensor to retard, and they got a 11sec beast. yah like greg said, up to 15psi it retard timing, then correct me if im wrong but doesn't it just hold that timing accordinglyyy from 15psi up? i could be in la la land right now ..but dave trust me its good enough for what you got to do.. i have the crane with all the goodies like greg and its a great little unit. right now i retard a bit when i go to 9-10psi just to be safe on 91 octane in ca...
well good luck



Michael 99gs
HRC Stage 2
Stage 3 process begins anyone got a 420a block thats not spun/head for sale?

http://www.dreamwater.net/purplebeast

I was always under the impression that you need to retard timing above 15 psi and anything under it is fine. We need an post that tells the truth about timing and boost. I am gettign confused here.

To me it makes no sense that you would need to not retard over 15 psi, and only at lower boost. Running more boost needs more retard, its just how it works.Higher boost means higher cylinder pressures, which is one of the causes of detonation. What i am thinking people are doing, is that they are retarding too much at 15 psi, and when they run more than that, the timing is about right on, to not detonate. I was getting detonation, at least the loud audible kind at around 9-11 psi, then cracked a piston ring land. Now i'm at 7 psi, and i can't hear any detonation at all, and the car almost feels like it pulls just a hard at 7 as it did at 8 or 9 psi. Why? Cause its not detonating, and with detonation, you loose power and torque. IMO, we need to start to pull timing at around 7.5 or 8 psi. Start off with very little retard at 8 psi, then work up to more with each pound of boost. Maybe at 8 psi, start off with .25 of a degree, and by 15 psi, have like 5 degrees of retard. I guess a dyno would have to be used to fine tune the amount really, but of course, this is just my theory...

with the crane ignition it boost proportion, meaning once you go into boost it starts retarding (depending how much retard you set on the knob)with you max boost. so when you hit 15psi it levels off (depending again how much retard you have the knob set for).. example would be say you have to retard a total of 5 degrees, once you go into boost to you max boost pressure (15psi if that) it will retard linear to max boost then level off. then again correctly me if im wrong correct me, but as far as i know this is how i understand the crane ignition. so far for me 9-10psi with ignition for 7months =good compression not alot of blow by...
this is from the crane papers i got
'As boost rises, retard rises with a slope determined by the knob setting. the retard of the slope stops rising when the boost reaches 15psi or the retard reachs 20 degrees."
another little story for you guys,
eric c (star stage 2) only thing he had was a ignition to retard timing, always went up to '15psi' stock internals car had like 50,000miles and did this for 20-30000miles more, and his car last never went bad, well until he put bigger injectors in and ran to lean..since he turned it on the street without to much info on how to tune..
well good luck


Michael 99gs
HRC Stage 2
Stage 3 process begins anyone got a 420a block thats not spun/head for sale?

http://www.dreamwater.net/purplebeast

The prob with the crane is that it will only retard up to 15 psi, not over that. If people who have the crane are retarding at a too steep of slope, and are getting too much retard at 15 psi, then if they run 20 psi, it will not detonate becuase the timing will be near what it should be for 20 psi. IMO, this wont be good for power, at lest not below 20-15 psi. You relly need to fine tune the retard, and i'd be willing to bet, that if you run proper retard for 15 psi, then you would get detonation at anything over that, for example, 20 psi. So what i am saying, is that people are dialing in too much retard for 15 psi, to not detonate at 20 psi. Thats not good for lower boost power..

I agree with ^

well if you feel that way, get the msd dis2 programableee kind, its about the same price as the crane or maybe a bit more.. and you can retard by boost or rpm and you can retard xx amount at different settings. i think this is a great way also, its just now you need a labtop to do it all if your tuning it on the street etc... my bud jamesman has the programablee on his car and he likes it..
good luck ...



Michael 99gs
HRC Stage 2
Stage 3 process begins anyone got a 420a block thats not spun/head for sale?

http://www.dreamwater.net/purplebeast