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Distributor governor slot lengths
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46776		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Josh P [ Mon Oct 24, 2011 11:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Distributor governor slot lengths
Today I picked up a 15R governor (slot length is 0.475"), and I have a 13R in my slant now (not sure of the length of a 13R, but would guess its around 0.410").

Firstly, I'd like to know if anybody has compiled a list of the various governors and their slot lengths and if anybody could link me to that info?

Secondly, what do most people like? I've read that Ted likes his 15R, others seem to enjoy 9X, and bigslant6fan recommends 0.380" (which seems it would be between 11.5X and 13X). I'm really only interested in the 9X and 11.5X governors, or if someone has a recommendation for some custom slot length, their reasoning would be interesting to hear.
Author:  olafla [ Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:37 am ]
Post subject: 
JoshP, the choise of governor depends on what you are after. The number on the governor can be multiplied by two to get the maximum number of degrees mechanical advance you get using that governor. As an example, my Aspen super-six has a factory static (or initial) ignition advance setting of 12°. Adding the 18° I get from the stock number #9 governor, brings it to 30°, which is pretty near perfect for a slantsix. Then your choice of vacuum pod comes on top of that.

As far as I know, slant six engines came with initial setting of everything from 0° to 12°, and used many different governors. Some people fit their large slot governor with one soft, and one long-hook, very heavy spring, for the advance weights. That way the heavy spring limit the travel of the advance weights, without having to brace the opening in the governor. It is also a good way to prevent any shudder or bouncing you may get, if soft springs make the advance weights hit the opposite end of the governor slot too hard.

Find out what initial timing your engine likes best, engines are a bit like people that way. Most slants like more initial than stock. The engine should start easy both hot and cold, and then use a vaccum meter to find the highest initial setting, and work from there.

That was at least a 3¢'er!

Olaf.
Author:  Josh P [ Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:45 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Olaf, do you know the length of the slots on your governor? I under stand the relationship between initial, mechanical, and total advance. I'm just wondering which governor is preferred by most people.

Also, my 15R slots are 0.475" so if I wanted a 9R, i would braze up the slots to 0.475/30*18 = 0.285". Is that correct?
Author:  bigslant6fan [ Tue Oct 25, 2011 1:40 pm ]
Post subject:  .
This should help;
<a href="http://s686.photobucket.com/albums/vv224/bigslant6fan/?action=view&current=1319575054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv224/bigslant6fan/1319575054.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Author:  emsvitil [ Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Thanks Olaf, do you know the length of the slots on your governor? I under stand the relationship between initial, mechanical, and total advance. I'm just wondering which governor is preferred by most people.

Also, my 15R slots are 0.475" so if I wanted a 9R, i would braze up the slots to 0.475/30*18 = 0.285". Is that correct?

No

It would be (.475 - width of post)/30 * 18 + width of post
Author:  olafla [ Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sorry, JoshP, I only have a #11, the #9 is in the car. (and some are buried deep in The Big Box)

Olaf.
Author:  Aggressive Ted [ Tue Oct 25, 2011 6:35 pm ]
Post subject: 
Josh,

Some thoughts.....
Since I have a heavy boxy commuter car, not a race car, I really like the 1974 stock 15R distributor. I did try others, 7R, 9R and 11R and was able to get similar results but I like the feel of the 15R. With 6 degrees initial instead of zero and all the mechanical kicking in plus the vacuum advance kicking in when I let up a little feels like a sling shot. The gas pedal is very responsive and spunky even on a bone stock engine.
Driving is really fun on the twisty back roads along the foot hills and I can pass others with out much effort.
I have found that some 70's and 80's SL6 cars and trucks feel like a slug and are very unresponsive from 1000 to 2500 rpm. That is why I bought several distributors and started testing.

If I had a heavy wind resistant truck I would prefer a 7R or 9R with more initial timing to get a good gas pedal feel.

On a race car even less of a slot since you go WOT right away and you don't want to exceed 28 degrees.

Like others have said, it depends on your driving style/use and vehicle type. Don't be afraid to experiment since you have a light car. You might get some great results.
Author:  Josh P [ Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
bigslant6fan, that was exactly what I was hoping for, thanks!


emsvitil, thanks for the revision, completely forgot about the posts. I assume there is a standard post diamater, do you happen to know what that is?

Ted, thanks for the insight. That confirmed what I suspected, most people who recommend the 9R seem to be racers. I think I'll end up using about 20° of mechanical, so I can run between 10°-12° initial since it seems that is what my engine likes.

Note to any board moderators: Can we get a new link in the recurve thread with the following info in it? Data taken from bigslant6fan's pic, added the addition data using an average of the values surrounding it.
Code:
Cam       Crank      Slot length
 6°          12°      0.340"
 7°          14°      0.357"
 8°          16°      0.375"
 9°          18°      0.390"
10°          20°      0.405"
11°          22°      0.420"
12°          24°      0.435"
13°          26°      0.447"
14°          28°      0.460"
15°          30°      0.475"
16°          32°      0.490"
17°          34°      0.505"
18°          36°      0.520"
Author:  bigslant6fan [ Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:33 pm ]
Post subject:  .
Just pulled apart a '79 super 6 dist P#3874876. The gov is marked 9H,and the slot width is 0.384
Author:  kesteb [ Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:26 pm ]
Post subject: 
I have pulled distributors apart and have 15 and 9 governors slots measure the same...
Author:  olafla [ Wed Oct 26, 2011 9:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
I have pulled distributors apart and have 15 and 9 governors slots measure the same...
I hope I don't confuse the matter, but for the total mech advance figure, isn't the distance between the outer slot ends what matters, and not the slot length itself, or are all slots supposed to start at the same distance from governor center?

There are also serial numbers stamped into the weights, are there differences in the distance between center of hole vs. pin center vs. spring perch center, for the different part numbers, or is the weight's mass, or center of gravity, different?

As an example, the governor (from a 318) #R11 uses a weight #1889264, and I think the same weight is used in my '77 Aspen, which has a #9 governor. The #1889264 weight's mass is 57 grams.

For those who is unaware of it, many parts interchange between SL6 and V8 distributors.

Olaf.
Author:  1969ronnie [ Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:34 am ]
Post subject: 
josh, my 13r measured .445 and was shortened to.375 . ronnie
Author:  Jeb [ Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:05 am ]
Post subject: 
The distributor in my truck has the governor out of a 73 satellite w/400 4 barrel. I think it's an 11R (can't quite remember off the top of my head). The slots in it are cut at an angle instead of straight like the ones are in my old governor.

I'm searching now for springs so I can slow down the curve a little bit. Right now all my mech. is coming in at 1800 RPM, and it's all in by 2200.

Yeah, it pings, really bad.
Author:  olafla [ Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:06 am ]
Post subject: 
Jeb, member bigslant6fan has the spring kits, send him a pm.

Olaf.
Author:  Jeb [ Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:21 am ]
Post subject: 
I already have, waiting on a reply back.
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