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Timing = overheating ??

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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 10:22 PM
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Default Timing = overheating ??

65' Vert, rebuilt 327/365 w/90 miles on it. Noticed the temp gauge up to about 220 when I got home after driving 20 miles in stop and go traffic. Total timing is set at about 34 degrees. Is there some tweaking of the timing I can do to make this thing run a little cooler??

Thanks for any help.
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 11:58 PM
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Default Total timing?

Total timing includes vacuum adv. also. Is this timing total with vacuum line connected?
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 06:06 AM
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on my '65 L76 the timing is pretty much at factory settings - 12º initial and 36º total timing with the vacuum adv disconnected and plugged, then reconnecting the vacuum advance adds another 16º on top of that. Mine runs steadily at idle, around town, or highway driving at 185º-190º. Make sure the vacuum advance is connected to full manifold vacuum. If you have the correct Holley 2818 carb the vacuum nipple available is full manifold vacuum but if you have a different replacement carb you may have both full and ported vacuum connections so make sure it's on a full manifold vacuum source.
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 07:43 AM
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Its been stated on here a bunch but those old sending units are notorious for being off (way off in some cases)....get an I/R temp gun and take a reading at the T-stat housing. If its off I'm told the Autozone Wells TU-5 is the closest, most accurate replacement.
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 09:01 AM
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Thanks for the replies, I'll check all those things. The vacuum is hooked up to the original tube, the carb is a rebuilt 2818. I'll have to try and get it dialed in. There aren't too many guys left who can get these cars dialed in by sound and feel. I knew one when I was a teenager, and he would help all of us kids with our cars.
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by fdreano
Its been stated on here a bunch but those old sending units are notorious for being off (way off in some cases)....get an I/R temp gun and take a reading at the T-stat housing. If its off I'm told the Autozone Wells TU-5 is the closest, most accurate replacement.
very true on the temp sender possibly being way off. Should always confirm with an IR temp gun. As for the Wells TU5, they are hit and miss also. I put one in my car and yanked it back out as it was reading 40º too high!. I ended up finding a couple used, but original GM sender units.

Originally Posted by Kurt G.
Thanks for the replies, I'll check all those things. The vacuum is hooked up to the original tube, the carb is a rebuilt 2818. I'll have to try and get it dialed in. There aren't too many guys left who can get these cars dialed in by sound and feel. I knew one when I was a teenager, and he would help all of us kids with our cars.
tuning up by "sound and feel" will most likely have you WAY off base. All you need is a good dial back timing light, dwell meter, and a vacuum gauge.
Set your dwell than your timing with the dwell meter and timing light.
use the vacuum gauge to set correct idle fuel mixture on the carb.
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 10:01 AM
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if you have teflon tape on your sending unit remove it...i have a napa sending unit in mine its within 20 degrees of my ir gun "190-200Deg."...i tried one from my local chevy dealer and it was of 30 degrees...


jack
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 10:20 AM
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Buncha good advice above. One additional item. Make sure your vacuum advance is actually working. I've run into a couple over the years that finally just failed. Make sure you see the timing actually change when you plug the hose back on.
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Kurt G.
65' Vert, rebuilt 327/365 w/90 miles on it. Noticed the temp gauge up to about 220 when I got home after driving 20 miles in stop and go traffic. Total timing is set at about 34 degrees. Is there some tweaking of the timing I can do to make this thing run a little cooler??

Thanks for any help.
You may not be able to set it any higher than 34 degrees unless you are able to get higher octane gas than I can. I can only buy 91 octane and if I set my timing at 36 VS 34, I get pinging.
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 03:07 PM
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Originally Posted by fdreano
Its been stated on here a bunch but those old sending units are notorious for being off (way off in some cases)....get an I/R temp gun and take a reading at the T-stat housing.
Very true. My temp gauge reads about 200 and the IR gun says 180 at the thermostat. I seem to recall somebody posting what value resistors to use if you want to try and dial your gauge back in.

larry
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Kensmith
You may not be able to set it any higher than 34 degrees unless you are able to get higher octane gas than I can. I can only buy 91 octane and if I set my timing at 36 VS 34, I get pinging.
wow, that sucks. We can get 93 everywhere around here and one station about 7 miles from me even sells 100LL racing fuel.
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by BarryK
wow, that sucks. We can get 93 everywhere around here and one station about 7 miles from me even sells 100LL racing fuel.
Barry,

You can open a few stations out here and make a killing with 93+ octane. I have a feeling it's because of all the California environmental laws. The most I can find in Norther California is 91.
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