C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

1975 timing

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 13, 2012 | 09:38 PM
  #1  
ATIS's Avatar
ATIS
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 396
Likes: 13
From: New Bern NC
Default 1975 timing

I have been reading about timing and I keep reading about not timing her to specs as its was tuned for lower power. With that said, what should my base timing be?

Last edited by ATIS; Apr 15, 2012 at 07:43 PM.
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2012 | 10:13 PM
  #2  
lars's Avatar
lars
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,370
Likes: 6,361
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Default

Base timing is irrelevant for performance (within a range), and you should be timing for total timing. As a starting point for a performance application, total timing should be 36 degrees, and this total timing should come "all-in" between 2500-3000 rpm. For complete instructions on setting up a performance timing curve, you can e-mail me for current versions of my papers on how to set timing.

Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2012 | 11:43 PM
  #3  
ATIS's Avatar
ATIS
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 396
Likes: 13
From: New Bern NC
Default

lars, I was using the instructional sticky. PM sent
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2012 | 02:44 PM
  #4  
lars's Avatar
lars
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,370
Likes: 6,361
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Default

Don't know what a "PM" is, but if you've sent me an e-mail as requested, you should have my papers by now - just sent out the latest batches this morning.

Lars
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2012 | 07:10 PM
  #5  
ATIS's Avatar
ATIS
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 396
Likes: 13
From: New Bern NC
Default

private message...your box is full. I didnt get the email. i will email you again.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2012 | 08:31 PM
  #6  
scottyp99's Avatar
scottyp99
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Default

Originally Posted by ATIS
private message...your box is full. I didnt get the email. i will email you again.
Lars doesn't even know what a PM is, man, just send an e-mail to his e-mail address! And I think you are going to find that the answer to your question is..........don't worry about the initial timing. It doesn't matter what it is. Get your hands on Lars' paper, read it about 9 times, and follow it's instructions. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.


Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2012 | 08:38 PM
  #7  
ATIS's Avatar
ATIS
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 396
Likes: 13
From: New Bern NC
Default

I sent him an email. I messed with the carb and no I have a hard cold start issue and I know I am running rich. I need to get her sorted out.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2012 | 08:47 PM
  #8  
ATIS's Avatar
ATIS
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 396
Likes: 13
From: New Bern NC
Default

Lars, got the email. Thank you very much!
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Apr 14, 2012 | 08:55 PM
  #9  
scottyp99's Avatar
scottyp99
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Default

Originally Posted by ATIS
I sent him an email. I messed with the carb and no I have a hard cold start issue and I know I am running rich. I need to get her sorted out.
OK, cool. E-mail Lars again, and tell him your carb issues, what kind of carb it is, any info you think is relevant, and he can send you another paper which goes into tuning your carb. Good luck,


Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2012 | 09:02 PM
  #10  
ATIS's Avatar
ATIS
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 396
Likes: 13
From: New Bern NC
Default

I messed with the idle speed....it was high but my tach is not working (have the wilcox board coming in the mail) so I have no idea how high it was but I think I have her too low now. I am going to bump her up a little and set the timing. I had to replace the gaskets in the carb and I think I have the thermo choke not set back in the correct place.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2012 | 10:16 PM
  #11  
ATIS's Avatar
ATIS
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 396
Likes: 13
From: New Bern NC
Default

I sent Lars another email asking for carb help. I want to get her running good tomorrow. temps are suppose to be in the 80's and I havent had the T-Tops off ...yet!
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2012 | 11:12 AM
  #12  
lars's Avatar
lars
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,370
Likes: 6,361
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Default

I just sent out all the tech request papers and info for this morning, so you should have everything requested. Let me know if you have questions or if you need assistance.
Lars
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2012 | 07:42 PM
  #13  
ATIS's Avatar
ATIS
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 396
Likes: 13
From: New Bern NC
Default

I need to replace my timing light (and get one that does Dewell and RPM along with timing) so I didnt mess with the timing but I did tune the carb...what a difference! Smooth idle, starts up on the first try from a cold start. I am getting 19lbs of vacuum at idle but I think I might have a leak so I am going to have to replumb the vac lines.

Took out with the T-Tops off for the first time this afternoon. She gets up and runs much better now and the brakes will lock up if needed! (Had to test them)

Lars, thank you sooo much for the tech papers. They helped a ton!!
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2012 | 09:43 PM
  #14  
69427's Avatar
69427
Tech Contributor
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,841
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Default

Originally Posted by scottyp99
Lars doesn't even know what a PM is, man, just send an e-mail to his e-mail address! And I think you are going to find that the answer to your question is..........don't worry about the initial timing. It doesn't matter what it is. Get your hands on Lars' paper, read it about 9 times, and follow it's instructions. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.


Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Sorry, but that's nonsense. Your engine spends 98% of its time at light loads and low RPM. Your initial timing affects your idle quality and your low speed/low RPM fuel economy. Getting your WOT timing correct is certainly important (2% of the time), but to ignore the non-WOT timing is foolish.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2012 | 11:37 AM
  #15  
scottyp99's Avatar
scottyp99
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Default

Originally Posted by ATIS
I need to replace my timing light (and get one that does Dewell and RPM along with timing) so I didnt mess with the timing but I did tune the carb...what a difference! Smooth idle, starts up on the first try from a cold start. I am getting 19lbs of vacuum at idle but I think I might have a leak so I am going to have to replumb the vac lines.

Took out with the T-Tops off for the first time this afternoon. She gets up and runs much better now and the brakes will lock up if needed! (Had to test them)

Lars, thank you sooo much for the tech papers. They helped a ton!!
If you have a vacuum gauge, that's great, everybody should have one. Here's a link that does a great job of explaining how you can use a vacuum gauge to diagnose engine problems.

http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/186.cfm

An old rule of thumb is to get your timing set the way you want it, and then make your final tweaks to the carb. Ignition first, then carb. If you have been reading Lars' stuff, you have probably already heard that one, but it bears repeating.


Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2012 | 11:52 AM
  #16  
scottyp99's Avatar
scottyp99
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Default

Originally Posted by 69427
Sorry, but that's nonsense. Your engine spends 98% of its time at light loads and low RPM. Your initial timing affects your idle quality and your low speed/low RPM fuel economy. Getting your WOT timing correct is certainly important (2% of the time), but to ignore the non-WOT timing is foolish.
Well, OK, that is technically true, and maybe I shouldn't have been so glib about it, but here is why I say it doesn't matter: If you have the advance curve set up correctly, and the centrifugal and vacuum advance are working properly, (pulling around 20 and 16 degrees respectively) then setting the fully advanced mechanical timing optimized for performance will put your initial timing right where it should be to optimize idle quality and fuel mileage. So, it isn't that it doesn't matter, it's that you don't need to worry about it. (If everything is working properly.)


Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2012 | 05:59 PM
  #17  
ATIS's Avatar
ATIS
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 396
Likes: 13
From: New Bern NC
Default

I plan to re-work the carb after I redo the timing. My issue at teh moment was I was so rich that if I pumped the peddle once and then went around to the carb I could smell gas without opening the butterfly valve...and I was bogging down with fast hard throttle movements.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 1975 timing

Old Apr 16, 2012 | 08:08 PM
  #18  
scottyp99's Avatar
scottyp99
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Default

Originally Posted by ATIS
I plan to re-work the carb after I redo the timing. My issue at teh moment was I was so rich that if I pumped the peddle once and then went around to the carb I could smell gas without opening the butterfly valve...and I was bogging down with fast hard throttle movements.
The butterfly valve? Are you talking about that plate that sits above the two front barrels? That should be open once the engine is warmed up. If it's not opening, it would explain a lot. When it's closed, it cuts off air, giving the engine a nice, rich a/f mixture, which is what it wants when it's cold. Once it's warmed up, it wants a much leaner mixture, so the valve opens up to let more air in. This could be a big part of your problem.


Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2012 | 09:08 PM
  #19  
ATIS's Avatar
ATIS
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 396
Likes: 13
From: New Bern NC
Default

It does open, but she would bog down bad, turned the needles in 1/4 turn each while watching the vacuum gage increase in vacuum and once it settled at 19 from 15 I could rev her a real quick and close together with no bog.
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2012 | 09:16 AM
  #20  
69427's Avatar
69427
Tech Contributor
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,841
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Default

Originally Posted by scottyp99
Well, OK, that is technically true, and maybe I shouldn't have been so glib about it, but here is why I say it doesn't matter: If you have the advance curve set up correctly, and the centrifugal and vacuum advance are working properly, (pulling around 20 and 16 degrees respectively) then setting the fully advanced mechanical timing optimized for performance will put your initial timing right where it should be to optimize idle quality and fuel mileage. So, it isn't that it doesn't matter, it's that you don't need to worry about it. (If everything is working properly.)


Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
You're putting the cart before the horse. You don't set up some arbitrary curve (like your 20* number above) and then set your max (WOT) timing at 36, and then voila', your low RPM timing is automatically set to its optimum (and not worth worrying about). You need to find out what (advance amount) the engine wants at low RPM, and then do the simple math to see what the curve amount needs to be to get to your desired max (36* in your example). This keeps the engine happy (ie: efficient) over the whole RPM range, not just at WOT speeds over 3000 RPM.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:51 AM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE