Trying to set my total timing
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 119
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From: Getzville NY
Trying to set my total timing
Following the pinned instructions up top and have read the associated articles.
I have set my initial timing to 0 degrees. I have a 350, 300 hp and that is the base timing in my manual. When I go to check my full timing, I am setting my timing gun to 36 degrees and the timing mark ends up on the bottom of the engine. Revving the engine brings the line to be pointing straight at the passenger side firewall. I have to set the timing to 58 degrees on the gun so that I can rev the engine and get the line back to the zero mark and when I do this the timing mark is coming over the top of the motor (as opposed to from underneath toward the driver side... is this the direction I should be seeing it go?)
What is going on here???? With the base timing set at 0 or even 4 degrees the car runs (and drives) great.
How is that I am running advanced by an extra 20 some degrees or am I not.. rather I'm just doing something wrong.
Help!
I have set my initial timing to 0 degrees. I have a 350, 300 hp and that is the base timing in my manual. When I go to check my full timing, I am setting my timing gun to 36 degrees and the timing mark ends up on the bottom of the engine. Revving the engine brings the line to be pointing straight at the passenger side firewall. I have to set the timing to 58 degrees on the gun so that I can rev the engine and get the line back to the zero mark and when I do this the timing mark is coming over the top of the motor (as opposed to from underneath toward the driver side... is this the direction I should be seeing it go?)
What is going on here???? With the base timing set at 0 or even 4 degrees the car runs (and drives) great.
How is that I am running advanced by an extra 20 some degrees or am I not.. rather I'm just doing something wrong.
Help!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,775
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Timing an engine is a simple basic procedure. I've having difficulty figuring out WTH you're experiencing. I'd suggest getting a timing tape for your harmonic damper, and you can then rule out errors coming form your adjustable timing light.
I'm not trying to insult you or anything, but hopefully you have the timing light attached to #1 cylinder and not #2 cylinder.
I'm not trying to insult you or anything, but hopefully you have the timing light attached to #1 cylinder and not #2 cylinder.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Getzville NY
Timing an engine is a simple basic procedure. I've having difficulty figuring out WTH you're experiencing. I'd suggest getting a timing tape for your harmonic damper, and you can then rule out errors coming form your adjustable timing light.
I'm not trying to insult you or anything, but hopefully you have the timing light attached to #1 cylinder and not #2 cylinder.
I'm not trying to insult you or anything, but hopefully you have the timing light attached to #1 cylinder and not #2 cylinder.
As I turn the timing on the gun to 36 degrees the timing mark moves down past the TDC mark and ends up near the bottom of the motor. The instructions on setting total timing say to increase the engine RPMs until the timing line stops moving and that should be at or near the TDC mark. For me, the timing line is no where NEAR the timing markers.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 119
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From: Getzville NY
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,356
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
With the vacuum advance hose pulled off, rev the engine until the advance no longer advances any further and adjust your timing light so that the timing mark aligns with "0" on the tab. What reading do you get on the gun?
Lars
Lars
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From: Getzville NY
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What Lars is trying to point out is: rev your motor to 3500 and hold the rpm steady. If you are reading 58 total with the vacuum advance disconnected loosen the dist. and turn it down to @ 38 degrees.
Initial advance can NOT be changed. It is what it is unless you change the dist. advance curve.
Initial advance can NOT be changed. It is what it is unless you change the dist. advance curve.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,356
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
If your timing advances from 4 degrees at idle to 58 degrees max centrifugal, you have a defective distributor which allows 54 degrees of centrifugal advance. You need to fix the distributor.
Lars
Lars
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Joined: May 2004
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hi
sorry to hijack in part the thread.
what are the numbers for a 70 lt-1?
idle speed? max advance? initial advance, etc.
i suppose setting up the ignition advance will be the same with the vacuum advance blocked. should the centrifugal advance be disabled also?
thanks
sorry to hijack in part the thread.
what are the numbers for a 70 lt-1?
idle speed? max advance? initial advance, etc.
i suppose setting up the ignition advance will be the same with the vacuum advance blocked. should the centrifugal advance be disabled also?
thanks
