timing question for new cam
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Re: timing question for new cam (dogboy)
your welcome Dogboy,
Its a great idea to play with lighter springs to allow the advance to come in sooner. Also its a great idea to use the adjustable vacuum can to limit the amount of advance from ported vacuum source. Furthermore the point to remember is that stock distributors many times do not have a very long mechanical advance curve. Therefore to get it really right, its a good idea to explore methods by which to lengthen the short factory curve. This will allow you to achieve the full 36 degrees mechanical advance without having to set your initial timing so high. The link I posted previously in this post explains this well.
Its a great idea to play with lighter springs to allow the advance to come in sooner. Also its a great idea to use the adjustable vacuum can to limit the amount of advance from ported vacuum source. Furthermore the point to remember is that stock distributors many times do not have a very long mechanical advance curve. Therefore to get it really right, its a good idea to explore methods by which to lengthen the short factory curve. This will allow you to achieve the full 36 degrees mechanical advance without having to set your initial timing so high. The link I posted previously in this post explains this well.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,305
Likes: 5
From: Orlando,Fl,USA
Re: timing question for new cam (Jvette73)
I did pull out the distributor and break it down. There was so much gunk built up in it that the advances were not moving. I removed all the parts and wire wheeled what I could to remove rust and gunk. I cleaned everything I could inside and out, degreaser, steel wool, gun cleaning patches, etc. I applied a very light coat of grease between the friction areas and wiped it before assembly as to not have a grease build up afterward. The advances work like butter now. I put it back in the car and fired it up. When I hit it with the timing light things were working as they were supposed to. What a difference. Still with the stock springs I was only able to pull about a 26 deg advance total I have it at 14 deg btdc for the initial timing. I took it for a quick run and definatley had a SOT experience with the new cam. I,m sure it will be a lot better when the recurve kit comes in.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 2
Re: timing question for new cam (dogboy)
My '76 Suburban distributor did the same thing, sticky weights. Disassembled and cleaned everything, and it was great for a while. Then they stuck again, even worse.
I bought an Accel HEI distributor for $115 at the local parts shop. It came with everything but the coil, however I already had an Accel HEI Super Coil on the old distributor so I was set. What a difference! and it comes with adjustable vacuum advance canister and the re-curve kit.
You may want to consider this distributor instead of recurving your old one. If it has a lot of miles on it the bushings are probably worn and you're not getting the accuracy of spark you want.
Jeff
P.S. Running MSD Pro-Billet on my '74 Corvette...WOW!
I bought an Accel HEI distributor for $115 at the local parts shop. It came with everything but the coil, however I already had an Accel HEI Super Coil on the old distributor so I was set. What a difference! and it comes with adjustable vacuum advance canister and the re-curve kit.
You may want to consider this distributor instead of recurving your old one. If it has a lot of miles on it the bushings are probably worn and you're not getting the accuracy of spark you want.
Jeff
P.S. Running MSD Pro-Billet on my '74 Corvette...WOW!
