Big Block timing
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 582
Likes: 3
From: Glen Allen (Richmond) Virginia
Big Block timing
I have a 427 stroked to 454 with an L-88 cam and pointless ignition. The engine only has about two hour run time. I had the timing set at 8 degrees and the engine sounded OK. Today I bumped the timing up to 11 degrees and the motor sounds much better than it did at 8 degrees and there seems to be no pinging when I drove it. The mallory distributor has no vacum advance and the cam was not degreed. Is it OK to run it at 11 degrees?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
The distributor probably has 24 degrees built into it. If thats correct your at 35 total. You may even be able to go a degree or more further. As you advance it the idle will go up, dont worry about that. Merely turn the idle back to around 850 by the carb idle screw. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,379
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
With that cam and no vacuum advance, you want to run initial timing up around 18 degrees and shorten the centrifugal advance curve down to about 18 so you get max total advance of 36. You can even go as high as 22-24 degrees initial as long as you shorten the curve enough to limit the total to 36. 11 degrees initial is not by far enough.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 582
Likes: 3
From: Glen Allen (Richmond) Virginia
With that cam and no vacuum advance, you want to run initial timing up around 18 degrees and shorten the centrifugal advance curve down to about 18 so you get max total advance of 36. You can even go as high as 22-24 degrees initial as long as you shorten the curve enough to limit the total to 36. 11 degrees initial is not by far enough.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 317
Likes: 2
From: coral gables miami
36 degrees is a good total lead. Most of the aftermarket Mallory distributors have approximately 24 built into them. 12+24=36. 18-22 initial, may be too much. If you dont know for sure run it up to 3000 and set it at 36. I have run that cam before and it`s a nice one. Use premium gas and you may even give it a few more degrees. Too much lead and it may be hard to start.
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