How can I tell if both leading and trailing ignitions are working the way they should? My SE used to get 95mph up a certain mountain where I live. Now it only gets 80mph, and I think it has something to do with the trailing ignition. What do you think? I notice that If I experiment with the timing, sometimes the power is freakish, like a turbo II, and other times it's sluggish.

 

If it was trailing, you'd be dead in the water, if it was leading, you might make the hill at 40 mph. When's the last time you did a full tune up, checked your filters and exhaust?

 

Pull the plug wire off of either of your lower plugs. Take an old spark plug and plug it into that wire you just removed. Lay that spark plug on the strut tower, and crank the engine over. You should see a big spark. If not, then you have no leading ignition.

If your leading is out, then you might get some of the power back by twisting the dizzy. You are basically making your trailing plugs work as the leading. This sounds like what you are describing.

 

Tune up and filters are recent. The car also has a free-flow exhaust. Thanks for your input. I think I will try what Kentetsu says. If I have no luck, I'll be asking for help again.

 

I know this might be a little redundant but have you checked the timing? Like with a timing light? Check your vacuum lines for the dizzy as well. Go direct fire.