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Timing question

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Old May 4, 2005 | 04:12 PM
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Default Timing question

I have a 383 with 200cc Dart Pro 1s and a Holley 750 carb. Right now it's running well but it's timed at 20 degrees before. I'm just wondering what you guys have your engines timed at (and at what RPM/vaccum advance on or off).

Thanks!

Last edited by jerryjfunk; May 4, 2005 at 04:36 PM.
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Old May 4, 2005 | 04:17 PM
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Something is wrong. If this is the initial setting you are wayyyy off. I run 16 degrees initial and 36 total. My vacuum can adds another 10 degrees but you don't use that for setting up the dist. That is pretty much a standard setup. All my advance is in by 2500 rpm. Check to see you have it on the right plug wire. Also your balancer ring may have slipped. If you have it truely set at 60 it should not be running very well.
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Old May 4, 2005 | 04:37 PM
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Whoa, sorry! I don't know how I did that but I meant to say 20 not 60. Hahaha. Would it even run at 60?

Anyway, thanks for the info. I guess it is pretty close, I've just heard of most people running at over 30, but that must be total.
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Old May 4, 2005 | 04:42 PM
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20 sounds a little better if that is the initial. The one that really matters is the final advance. It should be about 36 total with the vacuum disconnected. A lot depends on the dist and how old it is. Mine had a centrifical advance of 35 degrees. This was giving me a total of 50 degrees and the car ran but not to well. I had it recurved to give me about 20 degrees centrifical plus the 16 initial for a toatl of 36.
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Old May 4, 2005 | 08:20 PM
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My 383 runs perfectly well @ 22 deg. initial & 38 deg. total.......this is not unusual for a high performance engine....depends on your combination of cam, etc.
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Old May 4, 2005 | 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by C3 Stroker
My 383 runs perfectly well @ 22 deg. initial & 38 deg. total.......this is not unusual for a high performance engine....depends on your combination of cam, etc.
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Old May 5, 2005 | 04:49 AM
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Originally Posted by C3 Stroker
My 383 runs perfectly well @ 22 deg. initial & 38 deg. total.......this is not unusual for a high performance engine....depends on your combination of cam, etc.
38 total here
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Old May 5, 2005 | 10:29 AM
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So how come on the hood sticker of my 81, it says 6* initial??

My car no longer has computer control, and when I unseized my mechanical advance the other day (what a difference!), I set the initial at 10, just to go for a drive (it was late, didn't want to PO the neighbors). I noticed that as I increased it, the engine kept speeding up.

Should I go all the way to 16 or so initial?? How do I know where to stop? (i think my timing tab only goes to 12 or so..)

I don't want to Hijack the thread, but I'm curious.

Thanks!!
Dan
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Old May 5, 2005 | 11:47 AM
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I run 34 degrees initial timing and 34 degrees total timing (locked out).

It runs best this way and I don't have any pinging or starting issues.

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Old May 5, 2005 | 01:18 PM
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Originally Posted by danno12345
So how come on the hood sticker of my 81, it says 6* initial??
Because your car is set up for best emissions and not best performance. As you retard timing, the hydrocarbon emissions decrease (along with horsepower).
Lars
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Old May 5, 2005 | 02:02 PM
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Default timing question

i have mine set at 36 total/2700 rpm... still a lil hesi at wot, working with carb jets now to get it perfectly scary..
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Old May 5, 2005 | 02:09 PM
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Newer kidney shaped (or vortec) heads need less timing than older style heads so you might play with it some.
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