C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Needed: Courage to time a BB w/PS

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 1, 2024 | 11:55 AM
  #1  
barkingrats's Avatar
barkingrats
Thread Starter
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Supporting Gold
 
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,140
Likes: 4,248
From: US-PNW
Default Needed: Courage to time a BB w/PS

I chickened out at 3600 rpm...

Yesterday I decided to check the base and mechanical advance timing on my 454 with power steering and A/C fan blades (you know, the 7-blade with the tips that extend beyond the fan shroud). The only way to see the timing tab is to lean way over and try to sight down from over top the engine. If you get the timing light just a little too close, the fan tips will remind you that they are further out than what you might expect!

In trying to see the "all-in" timing and making sure it stops ~3600 rpm, your face is only a foot or so away from the fan. To say it's an unnerving experience is an understatement – I did my best but decided I wasn't going to confirm the readings! Unbeknownst to me, my wife was watching from the kitchen and said it looked pretty exciting.

As I packed up the timing light and put the air cleaner back on the engine, I decided that next time I try this I'm going to rig up a bore scope sort of arrangement on my phone and view the timing tab from a safe distance!

Reply
Old Jul 1, 2024 | 01:17 PM
  #2  
Bikespace's Avatar
Bikespace
Race Director
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,510
From: Virginia
Default

Electric fans don't seem so crazy now, do they.
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2024 | 01:22 PM
  #3  
barkingrats's Avatar
barkingrats
Thread Starter
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Supporting Gold
 
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,140
Likes: 4,248
From: US-PNW
Default

Originally Posted by Bikespace
Electric fans don't seem so crazy now, do they.
Agreed!
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2024 | 03:32 PM
  #4  
Rescue Rogers's Avatar
Rescue Rogers
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,222
Likes: 9,359
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

I would put one medium and one soft spring in there and get your all in closer to 3000. My 427 likes it. Agreed seeing the timing mark with all the pulleys and belts is a struggle.....im afraid I'll put a finger on a belt and get sucked into the alternator..
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2024 | 07:02 PM
  #5  
barkingrats's Avatar
barkingrats
Thread Starter
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Supporting Gold
 
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,140
Likes: 4,248
From: US-PNW
Default

Originally Posted by Rescue Rogers
I would put one medium and one soft spring in there and get your all in closer to 3000. My 427 likes it. Agreed seeing the timing mark with all the pulleys and belts is a struggle.....im afraid I'll put a finger on a belt and get sucked into the alternator..
Yeah. I need to experiment a little more. I don't recall what springs are in it and was just trying to confirm what I thought it's top mech. advance was. After the bore scope idea struck me I'm more open to the idea of revisiting the process. 🙂
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2024 | 07:30 PM
  #6  
DWAVette's Avatar
DWAVette
Drifting
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,663
Likes: 702
From: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, metro area
Default

You could visit your local commercial diver and borrow his stainless steel diving helmet for a few hours!!



Reply
Old Jul 2, 2024 | 01:22 AM
  #7  
4-vettes's Avatar
4-vettes
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,258
Likes: 7,847
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Default

Or just take the fan belt off temporarily while you check the timing.
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2024 | 09:55 PM
  #8  
Laughing Coyote's Avatar
Laughing Coyote
Racer
Veteran: National Guard
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 297
Likes: 502
From: Vail, AZ
Default

That's exactly why I added a small 1/8" rod to the timing tab right on the "0" mark. Was easy to see. Painted it white to stand out.


Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Needed: Courage to time a BB w/PS

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:15 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE