Another timing post
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Wilton North Carolina
Another timing post
I have read the sticky post on timing and have a good understanding of how to go about setting and checking the timing. The problem that I'm having is knowing what to set my base timing at. It is a 383 with a Voodoo #60103 hyd flat tappet cam kit 268/276;227/233;.489/.504 lift. Holly 650 cfm 4150 hp carb. The problem that I'm having is that when I set the total timing to 36 degrees the base is about 15 degrees witch makes it very hard to start when warm. (No it is not the starter getting hot.) If base timing is around 10 degrees no problem starting witch in return lowers my total timing. I don't really notice much performance difference but would like it to be right by that I mean easy to start once engine is warmed up or should total timing just be set back a little?
Thanks
Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,356
Likes: 6,328
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
If you have a performance cam, you want to run initial timing in the 18-degree range. There should be no problem cranking over a performance engine with up to 24 degrees initial timing. You might want to do a TDC verification of your timing marks and make sure you're really correct on your timing readings - the engine should not be kicking back on startup with only 15 degrees of initial timing. If your timing marks are correct and, for some odd reason, you really can't run more than 10 initial, you need to lengthen your centrifugal advance so you can run 10 initial with 36 total.
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