Shoptalkforums.com

So Ive been starting to do some ignition tuning, again. I know that each engine has what it likes, but as I compare my ignition with many others, it seems like my timing is awfully retarded. I have tried advancing in the 1500-2750 range by about 3-4 degrees but it did not build boost much and felt soggy and slow to respond.

Heres my current ignition map:
RPM Degrees
1000 13*
1250 15*
1500 18*
1750 21*
2000 23*
2250 25*
2500 28*
2750 31*
3000 32*
3250+ 32*

Does my timing seem unconventionally retarded or is it still within ballpark of what most hi performance turbo VW engines like?

Also, I retard about 1 degree of timing per every pound of boost, effectively reducing the ignition retard even more as the manifold pressure builds up. Motor is a 2276 EFI motor w/ T3/4 hybrid turbo, Engle V-26 cam on 112 lobe centers, Shag ported 40x37.5 heads, single 50mm TB, etc.

Thanks.

Do you have any intake cooling going on like an intercooler or W/I???

That will determine your boost retard by a large degree.
When on the dyno We added 4.0 plus degrees timing at full boost due to colder intake temps with a W/I and intercooler combo.
I am now at 24 degrees advance at 22 lbs. boost.
I was down to 18-19 lbs before that.
We also raised the timing at mid rpm and gained a little torque in one map area. The dyno showed a slight dip in the torque curve and adding a little timing smoothed it out.
With my intake temps so low I do not have MAT retard working. That will be the next step to see if I can figure out when it starts pinging and pull timing as the air warms up through Spring and Summer.

I don't think you are too far out of line compared to mine.....but it will all depend on a multitude of factors which include compression, heads, IAT's and possibly other things.
You can experiment and listen carefully for pinging....although that is a slippery slope to be messing with.
If I don't have W/I on it will ping quite easily so I am on the edge when running at high boost.
How you want to go about it is really up to you.......are you conservative or not???

You could try adding timing in the 2250-3000 rpm range to ramp it up faster but only in the light cruise or under 100 kpa areas
I run 36 degrees timing at 60-70 kpa cruise ramping down to 30 at 100 kpa.
I'm going to work on going to 40 plus degrees in the light cruise this spring if I ever get time to mess with it.
It still runs pretty nice driving to work and back but it might make a difference on the long cruises.
I'm not so much going for mileage since it is a performance car not a efficiency car.