1st Time using timing light

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jun 19, 2019 | 10:57 AM

#21

mike914

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jun 2018

Posts: 110

Likes: 3

Hello Bikespace

Yes Emailed Lars and he promptly sent the paper.
Skimmed through it and ordered the recommended spring kit to help with curve.
I have yet to buy a timing light with advance will do it this week

I will try again this weekend

Thanks for all of the help

Mike

Jun 19, 2019 | 11:16 AM

#22

Bikespace

Race Director

Joined: Mar 2017

Posts: 11,898

Likes: 4,473

From: Virginia

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike914

Awesome! You are 80% of the way there. I'm quite happy with my Innova 5568, but there are plenty of timing light options. Let us know how it works out, and take some pictures.

Jun 19, 2019 | 11:35 AM

#23

VERYSOON

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2001

Posts: 918

Likes: 197

From: TX

+1 on the Innova 5568

Also, you can use it to set the dwell should you replace your current distributor with a points distributor. I bet Lars will POINT you in that direction!!

VS

Jun 23, 2019 | 08:45 AM

#24

mike914

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jun 2018

Posts: 110

Likes: 3

Update

Hello Everyone

Thought I would post an update and ask for opinions.

I reached out to Lars and got his paper on setting timing.(Thanks Lars)

Also I borrowed a timing light with advance on it.

Initial dwell was only 18 on my old Sears meter.

Looked up gap on mallory site and spec for this dual point distributor is .022.

Reset to .022 and could not get car to start.

Backed it down to .020 and dwell is now 28 (best I could manage after 8 tries.)

So now I can start car but it is harder to start but runs fine.

Took it for a spin and runs well.

So according to Lars paper the next step is to remove one heavy spring.

This is where my question begins:

Wondering what I need to do to access the springs.

Does anyone have an idea?

Thanks for any advice

Mike

Pic:

Last edited by mike914; Jun 23, 2019 at 08:49 AM.

Jun 23, 2019 | 10:14 AM

#25

stingr69

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 7,455

Likes: 1,482

From: Little Rock AR

Oh man....thats gotta come out. 😲

Jun 23, 2019 | 05:12 PM

#26

Bikespace

Race Director

Joined: Mar 2017

Posts: 11,898

Likes: 4,473

From: Virginia

I'm so confused. What even is that? Do you have two sets of points, like a redundant dual ignition from an airplane? (though one appears to be disabled with felt)

Anyway, the springs should be attached to the advance weights above all of that. Was there anything between what you show and the rotor?

If you don't care about originality, consider upgrading to an HEI ignition.

Jun 23, 2019 | 06:59 PM

#27

derekderek

Race Director

Joined: Jul 2015

Posts: 13,082

Likes: 3,399

From: SW Florida.

That is an old dual point racing distributor with no vacuum advance. Useless. Replace it with the correct points distributor or replace it with a 74 tack drive HEI. Like this. https://www.ebay.com/itm/CORVETTE-TA...-/200941757896 edit. i don't even think it has centrif advance. i think that is a locked-out distributor.

Last edited by derekderek; Jun 23, 2019 at 09:47 PM.

Jun 23, 2019 | 10:09 PM

#28

mike914

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jun 2018

Posts: 110

Likes: 3

Hello Bikespace

Thanks for the comment

I removed the distributor cap

Under that was the rotor

Under the rotor was the points you see in pic.

I believe the springs are under the points.

The mallory instructions P could find illustrate the opposite like you were asking.

See below

Last edited by mike914; Jun 23, 2019 at 10:10 PM.

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

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

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

Joe Kucinski

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

Verdad Gallardo

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Brett Foote

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

Michael S. Palmer

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

Joe Kucinski

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

Michael S. Palmer

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

Joe Kucinski

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Joe Kucinski

Jun 23, 2019 | 10:21 PM

#29

Bikespace

Race Director

Joined: Mar 2017

Posts: 11,898

Likes: 4,473

From: Virginia

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike914

Exactly. I was expecting to see something like you show in Figure 2 of the Mallory instructions. As @derekderek suggested, you'd be miles ahead with a stock distributor, or an HEI with a mechanical tach drive (assuming you need that, your tach may have been converted to electric, for all we know, do you have a mechanical drive on what you have?). I don't think you'll find any springs under those points, as I doubt that distributor has the capability for mechanical advance.

Anyway, Figure 2 shows a pair of springs on the advance weights, which is what @lars is describing in his instructions, or in the instructions for the distributor spring/recurve kit you have.

My 79's distributor was shot (though correct). I bought a new one off eBay, and followed the rest of Lars' instructions, and got that car squared away and performing MUCH better for about $300-, including new plugs, wires, and timing light.

Last edited by Bikespace; Jun 23, 2019 at 10:22 PM.

Jun 23, 2019 | 10:35 PM

#30

mike914

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jun 2018

Posts: 110

Likes: 3

Hello Derekderek

Thanks for the link
Very attractive price on this unit
Any idea to a link to convert points with separate coil to HEI?

Jun 24, 2019 | 10:09 PM

#31

mike914

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jun 2018

Posts: 110

Likes: 3

Hello Everyone

I believe I am making progress on this one.

I was able to get to the springs and installed the gold springs Lars recommends in his paper.

This improved starting

Dwell angle is now 30

Idle is 750 smooth

I had to return the timing light with advance as I was struggling with points .

I did hook up my cheap light and this is what I saw.

Does this mean I have some advance?

The next step to borrow the light back and set it to 36 while rotating distributor and revving engine?

Should I adjust to the 0 mark on the timing tab?

Thanks

Lars states:

Set the light to 36 degrees advance.

Now rev the engine while observing the timing marks with the light.

You will notice that the stock line on the balancer will move up towards the
timing plate as rpm increases.

Continue to increase rpm until the line does not move any further (centrifugal advance is “pegged out”).

Once the timing is “pegged out,” the line on the balancer should line
up with the “0” mark on the timing tab.

Last edited by mike914; Jun 24, 2019 at 10:14 PM.

Jun 25, 2019 | 08:20 PM

#32

mike914

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jun 2018

Posts: 110

Likes: 3

Hello All

I figured it out

Set initial timing at idle at 12

then increased rpm to 2500 to 2900

total timing 36 degrees

Mark on balancer is lined up with the zero mark on the timing plate.

Runs strong starts well.

Still have to take it for a long ride as it started to rain just as I finished up.

Ran great through my neighborhood.

Thanks for all the advice

Mike

Last edited by mike914; Jun 25, 2019 at 08:22 PM.

Jun 25, 2019 | 10:19 PM

#33

Bikespace

Race Director

Joined: Mar 2017

Posts: 11,898

Likes: 4,473

From: Virginia

Thanks for the update! It looks like you have it sorted out pretty well. I'm happy to be proven wrong, and you were able to find a working advance mechanism under the dual points.

Enjoy the drive!

Last edited by Bikespace; Jun 25, 2019 at 10:20 PM.

Jun 26, 2019 | 12:13 AM

#34

derekderek

Race Director

Joined: Jul 2015

Posts: 13,082

Likes: 3,399

From: SW Florida.

the thing you will miss with no vacuum advance is fuel economy at cruise. but if priority right now is feeling the seat push on your shoulder blades, deal with it later. did you take the felt out from second set of points and get both sparking?

Jun 26, 2019 | 06:54 AM

#35

mike914

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jun 2018

Posts: 110

Likes: 3

Thanks Guys

I did not remember to remove the felt.

I will do it tonight and report back.

BTW the timing light with built in advance is well worth it.

I will be buying one soon.

Yes this car does drink gas, but the feeling when it accelerates is well worth it.

Mike

Last edited by mike914; Jun 26, 2019 at 06:54 AM.