<VV> Re: Mo' combustion temp.

[Padgett]

>  I used to retard the timing
>considerably to increase the  combustion temp and thereby reduce the 
>hydrocarbon level
>in the exhaust in order  to get the engine to pass the yearly New Jersey
>emission  test.  Together with leaning out the carbs this got the  car 
>passed for
>another year but the car drove like it had about 40  hp.

Joisy must have only been checking HC and CO since raising the combustion 
temp like that will send Nitrous Oxide (NOx, the main contributor to 
photochemical smog) through the roof. Purpose of EGR is to reduce the 
chamber temp to control NOx.

See http://www.envirotools.org/factsheets/contaminants/nitrogenoxides.shtml

Padgett