Ignition Timing Question on my '73 Small Block
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Texas
Ignition Timing Question on my '73 Small Block
I attempted to set my initial timing on my c3 after replacing the intake and building the engine back up. Following instruction from another thread, I manually turned the balancer to 12 BTDC. From there I established the position of the number one plug wire by pointing the rotor to a position of the number one wire. Then wired the plugs and distributor from there. I left the distributor loose to keep a little play for best positioning. The car runs good but when I use a timing light, the mark on the balancer is no where in sight when the number one plug fires. Did I go wrong somewhere along the way?
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 62
Likes: 7
From: Mobile Alabama
I attempted to set my initial timing on my c3 after replacing the intake and building the engine back up. Following instruction from another thread, I manually turned the balancer to 12 BTDC. From there I established the position of the number one plug wire by pointing the rotor to a position of the number one wire. Then wired the plugs and distributor from there. I left the distributor loose to keep a little play for best positioning. The car runs good but when I use a timing light, the mark on the balancer is no where in sight when the number one plug fires. Did I go wrong somewhere along the way?
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Texas
I turned the distributor the full range available and it wasn't enough to get the mark to show up in that view.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Texas
Thanks Mike. I'll give it a try. How much will the distributor reposition realigning the one tooth? It seems like there were only two positions where I could get the distributor seated which aligned the distributor about 180 degrees from where I have it now.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,376
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
The trick in physically turning the distributor "one tooth", is that you also have to rotate the oil pump drive the same amount. Remember, the oil pump drives off the bottom of the distributor's drive gear, by engaging the slot in the oil pump driveshaft.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
After you move the distributor one tooth the distributor will not be flush with the manifold.
Sticking up about 3/8 of a inch.
Just crank the starter for a second and when the slot lines up the distributor will drop down flush.
Sticking up about 3/8 of a inch.
Just crank the starter for a second and when the slot lines up the distributor will drop down flush.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Your best bet is to email "Lars"
V8fastcars@man.com
and ask for his "How to install your distributor" paper.
V8fastcars@man.com
and ask for his "How to install your distributor" paper.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Texas
Your best bet is to email "Lars"
V8fastcars@man.com
and ask for his "How to install your distributor" paper.
V8fastcars@man.com
and ask for his "How to install your distributor" paper.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Texas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lars_Grimsrud
Check out the bottom of this link for a few of his papers. One of them specifically walks you through this process.
Check out the bottom of this link for a few of his papers. One of them specifically walks you through this process.