Who needs timing advance???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Who needs timing advance???
Hi
So I just got my vette back from the mechanic. He was doing a ton of things to it, trying to get the new crate engine to run fine. I'm sure he reads this forum, so he's is probably reading this along with all of you.
To my surprise, he had tuned it so that there would be no mechanical or vacuum advance.
Thus, the advance is now always at 36 degrees all the time at all RPM's.
What are the pros and cons of this?
THanks
So I just got my vette back from the mechanic. He was doing a ton of things to it, trying to get the new crate engine to run fine. I'm sure he reads this forum, so he's is probably reading this along with all of you.
To my surprise, he had tuned it so that there would be no mechanical or vacuum advance.
Thus, the advance is now always at 36 degrees all the time at all RPM's.
What are the pros and cons of this?
THanks
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: Beaumont TX
Read the sticky post on the top of this page. It will explain everything (or at least get you well on your way). I used the advice and my car has never run better. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...long-post.html
IMHO, If what you are saying is correct I'd take my car elsewhere in a heartbeat.
IMHO, If what you are saying is correct I'd take my car elsewhere in a heartbeat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 12
From: columbus oh
Hi
So I just got my vette back from the mechanic. He was doing a ton of things to it, trying to get the new crate engine to run fine. I'm sure he reads this forum, so he's is probably reading this along with all of you.
To my surprise, he had tuned it so that there would be no mechanical or vacuum advance.
Thus, the advance is now always at 36 degrees all the time at all RPM's.
What are the pros and cons of this?
THanks
So I just got my vette back from the mechanic. He was doing a ton of things to it, trying to get the new crate engine to run fine. I'm sure he reads this forum, so he's is probably reading this along with all of you.
To my surprise, he had tuned it so that there would be no mechanical or vacuum advance.
Thus, the advance is now always at 36 degrees all the time at all RPM's.
What are the pros and cons of this?
THanks
Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 710
Likes: 0
From: Northern Florida
Hi
So I just got my vette back from the mechanic. He was doing a ton of things to it, trying to get the new crate engine to run fine. I'm sure he reads this forum, so he's is probably reading this along with all of you.
To my surprise, he had tuned it so that there would be no mechanical or vacuum advance.
Thus, the advance is now always at 36 degrees all the time at all RPM's.
What are the pros and cons of this?
THanks
So I just got my vette back from the mechanic. He was doing a ton of things to it, trying to get the new crate engine to run fine. I'm sure he reads this forum, so he's is probably reading this along with all of you.
To my surprise, he had tuned it so that there would be no mechanical or vacuum advance.
Thus, the advance is now always at 36 degrees all the time at all RPM's.
What are the pros and cons of this?
THanks
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Brett Foote
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 273
Likes: 11
From: Algona, WA
Is your car a race car? Or a very radical street car, that doubles as drag
car? This is a common setup for drag car. But we all don't drive race cars on the street.
I run my car 35 deg. all in. But with a 20 deg. start retard. If your running
a mild motor, less than 500 H.P. iron heads on pump gas, this is not the
setup.
car? This is a common setup for drag car. But we all don't drive race cars on the street.
I run my car 35 deg. all in. But with a 20 deg. start retard. If your running
a mild motor, less than 500 H.P. iron heads on pump gas, this is not the
setup.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
I have to assume you misunderstood - but if not, your "mechanic" needs to seek other employment.
If he's been cranking on a new engine without it starting, I hope you're preoiling the hell out of it. A new engine should fire immediately if everything's right - and it's worth the time required to get everything right.
If he's been cranking on a new engine without it starting, I hope you're preoiling the hell out of it. A new engine should fire immediately if everything's right - and it's worth the time required to get everything right.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
Is your car a race car? Or a very radical street car, that doubles as drag
car? This is a common setup for drag car. But we all don't drive race cars on the street.
I run my car 35 deg. all in. But with a 20 deg. start retard. If your running
a mild motor, less than 500 H.P. iron heads on pump gas, this is not the
setup.
car? This is a common setup for drag car. But we all don't drive race cars on the street.
I run my car 35 deg. all in. But with a 20 deg. start retard. If your running
a mild motor, less than 500 H.P. iron heads on pump gas, this is not the
setup.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
No way you could start the car. You'd get kick-back.
No way one setting (36*) is optimal for all street driving conditions. My cars typically have 14-16 degrees initial, 36 total mechanical, and another 16 from the vacuum advance can, meaning I could have over 52 degrees timing,..highway cruising for instance.
Agree,..find a mechanic who understands timing.
No way one setting (36*) is optimal for all street driving conditions. My cars typically have 14-16 degrees initial, 36 total mechanical, and another 16 from the vacuum advance can, meaning I could have over 52 degrees timing,..highway cruising for instance.
Agree,..find a mechanic who understands timing.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 710
Likes: 0
From: Northern Florida
No way you could start the car. You'd get kick-back.
No way one setting (36*) is optimal for all street driving conditions. My cars typically have 14-16 degrees initial, 36 total mechanical, and another 16 from the vacuum advance can, meaning I could have over 52 degrees timing,..highway cruising for instance.
Agree,..find a mechanic who understands timing.
No way one setting (36*) is optimal for all street driving conditions. My cars typically have 14-16 degrees initial, 36 total mechanical, and another 16 from the vacuum advance can, meaning I could have over 52 degrees timing,..highway cruising for instance.
Agree,..find a mechanic who understands timing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
The only way you could start it would be to have seperate starter and ignition switches. You hit the starter button, get it spinning, then flip the ignition on and hope you don't break the starter drive.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Hello All
Yes, I double checked with the mechanic, and he locked advance on the distributor so it is always at 36 degrees advance.
My engine is a 383 crate with aluminum heads and roller rockers, rated at 475hp. Dont know if it makes a difference in deciding to lock the advance on the distributor. It's not going to be used only at the track though. Most of the time it will be street driven.
Could there be other problems besides being hard to start?
The car starts up fine though. Is the starting the main concern?
Yes, I double checked with the mechanic, and he locked advance on the distributor so it is always at 36 degrees advance.
My engine is a 383 crate with aluminum heads and roller rockers, rated at 475hp. Dont know if it makes a difference in deciding to lock the advance on the distributor. It's not going to be used only at the track though. Most of the time it will be street driven.
Could there be other problems besides being hard to start?
The car starts up fine though. Is the starting the main concern?
Last edited by pj_corvette; Jun 16, 2009 at 01:35 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,425
Likes: 1,559
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Hello All
Yes, I double checked with the mechanic, and he locked the distributor so it is always at 36. Dont know if it makes a difference in deciding to lock the differential. It's not going to be used only at the track though. Most of the time it will be street driven.
Yes, I double checked with the mechanic, and he locked the distributor so it is always at 36. Dont know if it makes a difference in deciding to lock the differential. It's not going to be used only at the track though. Most of the time it will be street driven.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 7
From: Adelaide South Australia
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
I think a distributor locked at 36° for a street car is a big mistake, except if you drive it always as a drag race car. 
Can work well at WOT, but certainly not the best setup in traffic...
Even no vacuum advance is not a good idea either, for the same reasons, plus mpg...
Can work well at WOT, but certainly not the best setup in traffic...
Even no vacuum advance is not a good idea either, for the same reasons, plus mpg...
Last edited by 73StreetRace; Jun 17, 2009 at 01:01 AM.