Detonating

[RFD2]

I've set base timing to spec, unless I run 91 octane the engine pings under load. I'm thinking of a new distributor w/ module from rock auto. Am I going in the right direction?

 

[franklin2]

Have you tried different fueling stations? The fuel they sell now like everything else is pretty lousy.

If the timing is steady and moves smoothly when you rev the engine, I would assume the distributor ok.

 

[RFD2]

Yes, but I'm not sure their sources are different. Most gas in my area comes from 2 refineries in California. I'll try a couple more and see if it gets better.

 

[Josh B]

see if one of these is anywhere near you, I don't think they cover AZ very well yet tho, but good luck, it's the best one I know, and from my home state https://duckduckgo.com/?q=loves+travel+stops+in+arizona&t=ffab&ia=web

 

[RFD2]

see if one of these is anywhere near you, I don't think they cover AZ very well yet tho, but good luck, it's the best one I know, and from my home state https://duckduckgo.com/?q=loves+travel+stops+in+arizona&t=ffab&ia=web

They have locations here in AZ. I'll try it, thanks

 

[Josh B]

They started here in Oklahoma and I believe they get quality fuel, and I hope they keep it up. Since their new one opened near here on TX side it's my primary station.
I went to a memorial a couple years ago, a couple hundred miles away and watched for one the whole time but didn;t see one at all.
When I got to my turn off the interstate onto the little road that went to the little church there was one waiting right there for me

 

[Shran]

This may be carbon knock and not related to your timing at all. Basically carbon buildup in the combustion chamber that artificially increases your compression ratio. My 94 Explorer will do it often, pretty annoying. Ford put out a TSB for the 4.0 engines, it's the same concept for the 2.9, see this:

4.0 OHV pinging under load - Ranger-Forums - The Ultimate Ford Ranger Resource

4.0L OHV & SOHC V6 Tech - 4.0 OHV pinging under load - I have a '98 Ranger, it's nearing in on the 200K mark. A little over a year ago, I changed out the head gaskets and put on rebuilt heads. Other than a bit of oil consumption (even though it never used any before the heads....), the truck was...

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