I am going to get this car smog tested again. It keeps failing on high NOx ever so sightly. Just replaced the manifold and exhaust gaskets and the catalytic converter.

To further increase my chances of passing, I would like to advance? the timing timing by 2 degress (12 degress +- ok).

Is that correct? Does advancing help NOx or is retarding the timing?

And which way would the 'back of the cam' distributor housing rotate to advance or retard the timing?

The cam turns clockwise with respect to looking at the rear of car (top of cam travels toward driver side)

...so that would mean the distributor housing would need to rotate counter clockwise to advance timing? This would cause the spark to happen 'more before' TDC.

So an advanced timing would be +14 degrees BTDC and a retarded timing would be +10 degrees BTDC. This would be read off the timing scale.

Thanks BB

Rob 91 740 na rex/regina