Timing light for MSD
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Timing light for MSD
I have a good INNOVA timing light that has always worked well. It says it's not compatible with multi spark. I know MSD sells thier own half million dollar timing light, anybody know of a reasonable alternative? It just seems like the MSD light is just that and no tach feature etc
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Little Rock AR
You can probably use the one you have but you will want to set your timing at the top of the curve after all the centrifugal advance is fully in. The multispark boxes can throw off erroneous readings at lower RPMs because of the extra spark firings but that problem goes away at 3000 RPM or so where there is only time enough for 1 spark.
I always set my timing at 36 degrees at the top of the curve (3000 RPM when running the old school factory wedge heads. If you have modern Vortec kidney bean chambers you probably only need 32 degrees at full centrifugal.
I always set my timing at 36 degrees at the top of the curve (3000 RPM when running the old school factory wedge heads. If you have modern Vortec kidney bean chambers you probably only need 32 degrees at full centrifugal.
Race Director
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Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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I use the innova and have a 6al2 digital and havent ha any issues. Whats your problems?
Race Director
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Mine (Innova) is moves around at idle about 1-2 degrees with the MSD 6A Digital, and seems (?) to get better when I bring the RPM up but still around a degree off at 3000 compared to the basic light.
Both read exactly the same without the MSD box
M
Both read exactly the same without the MSD box
M
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
good to know. I have an old one i should compare them together and see if mine get wonky
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Team Owner
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Wanna loan? Same problem.
Cant tell if its my light or if I got other issues mark jumps all over the place no matter what the rpm.
Cant tell if its my light or if I got other issues mark jumps all over the place no matter what the rpm.
Last edited by cv67; Jul 1, 2020 at 09:56 AM.
Race Director
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
I hate not knowing something is working or kind-of-working
M
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Ok. Just got an email from an old friend that is who I consider an ignition guru and he said if I have an issue with my light use a separate battery. Not sure how that affects things but if he says try it I'll give it a shot.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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That's the worst part of it, some seem to be off, others seem to be rock steady, mine wanders around so much I chased problems with idle that weren't actually there for weeks, with points it works perfectly even with HEI
I hate not knowing something is working or kind-of-working
M
I hate not knowing something is working or kind-of-working
M
Race Director
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Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
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Royal Canadian Navy
With my Innova light, I find that if the pickup clamp just "hangs" on the plug wire, the readings can be way off. But if I gently pull on the pickup wire, the readings are accurate. As stingr69 states, I do a check at 3000+ rpms to verify my total timing.
Edit: I have a MSD 6530 programmable ignition box.
Edit: I have a MSD 6530 programmable ignition box.
Last edited by resdoggie; Jul 1, 2020 at 10:42 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Bellmore NY
Anyway, an inductive timing light and timing tape, or a numbered balancer can't be beat. Ive borrowed dial back craftsman lights and tested them back to back, and did they not give same readings.
Team Owner
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Have a craftsman light and the mark jumps around no matter what rpm. Dont know if I have an cam endplay issue or its just the light but msd is too proud $$ of theirs. Runs fine though
2nd Gear
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[QUOTE=Big Block Dave;1601768947]Ive got two inductive timing lights that friends have disposed of, to me. A craftsman, and something else called "Fox Valley", and I recently threw out some other relic that ended up in my collection.
Anyway, an inductive timing light and timing tape, or a numbered balancer can't be beat. Ive borrowed dial back craftsman lights and tested them back to back, and did they not give same readings.[/QUOTE]
There will be differences in the readings. These are two fundamentally different indicators. They work differently.
Anyway, an inductive timing light and timing tape, or a numbered balancer can't be beat. Ive borrowed dial back craftsman lights and tested them back to back, and did they not give same readings.[/QUOTE]
There will be differences in the readings. These are two fundamentally different indicators. They work differently.
Last edited by benstorey; Sep 8, 2021 at 06:11 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Your light will be accurate at 3000rpm or above where the MSD’s multiple sparks become a single spark. The Flaming River uses its own batteries, so works perfectly with spark boxes.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 93
From: Bellmore NY
[[color=#000000]QUOTE=Big Block Dave;1601768947]Ive got two inductive timing lights that friends have disposed of, to me. A craftsman, and something else called "Fox Valley", and I recently threw out some other relic that ended up in my collection.
Anyway, an inductive timing light and timing tape, or a numbered balancer can't be beat. Ive borrowed dial back craftsman lights and tested them back to back, and did they not give same readings.
Anyway, an inductive timing light and timing tape, or a numbered balancer can't be beat. Ive borrowed dial back craftsman lights and tested them back to back, and did they not give same readings.
There will be differences in the readings. These are two fundamentally different indicators. They work differently.[/QUOTE]
the two dial back lights gave different readings from each other