For the past two months I've been making a weekly 350-400 mile round trip of mixed city driving, high speed, hilly highway and country roads. With gas prices the way they are now, I've been experimenting with different octane rated gas, and with my timing, etc. I know there are those that say using the high-test is throwing money away, but I just can't get around the fact that 'the Bird' ('66 122s, B20, Weber, AFAIK about 35k on the engine) just runs better on the higher octane. I'd love to be able to use the cheaper stuff, but I get knocking when keeping up speed on long uphill pulls with it and over all things just 'feel' smoother with the high-test. I've got the timing set at around 12-15 @ idle- I know there are those who advance much more (I was running somewhere around 30 previously), but the engine seems to like this setting- idles smoother and lower, advances smoothly. Anyway, just wondering what others' experience/thoughts are on it all. Saving a bit at the pump would be nice, but having the Bird running well is nicer! Maybe the head was shaved or something on the B20 and it's high compression and it's simply got to be the high octane to keep it happy....

I do love the fact that in a 40 year old car I can keep up with all but the fastest on the highway- fillups take longer than usual though, with the questions and chit chat!

Tom
NYC