Timing Problems Found Please Read
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Well I got a chance today to take my 77 out for a ride and it ran SUPER!!!! Foot brake to around 1500 rpms and it was out of the hole like crazy! It turns on right away now I ended up with the timing initial at 15 degrees 35 degrees at 2500 rpms and total of 50 degrees in at 2800 rpms Now it feel strong at any rpms from 1500 to 6000 rpms. It will smoke the tires out of the hole burning them until 2nd gear and leaves around a car length in 2nd and a good squake in 3rd. And it was through all the gears in no time. I'm VERY happy. No spark knock or pinging.
Nice to have it running like it should. 
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Leroy Township Ohio
I put an MSD adjustable advance HEI distributor in my 76 and am in process of fresh new top end (had other posts on parts used, Vortec, EDL, 2113 cam, etc...). Where should the adjustable mechanical advance be to get it "close" or should it be all the way in until the initial setup is acheived. The adjustment on this will go out (through the vacuum advance port with a very small allen wrench) approximately 10 complete turns. Or should I start out in the middle with this adjustment around 5 turns.
Reddog76
Reddog76
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I did the same basic tune up to mine last year and it also made a big difference. I bought the Mr Gasket HEI kit, and got the 36 degrees timing all in by I think it was 2600. It starts a lot easier, runs stronger and has a few more inches of vacumn. The only drawback was the cam doesn't sound as good anymore, but it sure runs a lot better.
