Timing and Timing Light trouble???Shoot!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 243
Likes: 1
From: Knoxville TN
Timing and Timing Light trouble???Shoot!
First to start, what should the dwell and timing be for a 1970 350/300 auto. Spark plugs gapped at 0.035, points at 0.019 One Book says dwell 28-32,timing 0 btdc, another book says dwell 29-30, timing 4 btdc. A friend says dwell 30 and 10 or more btdc?
What's correct or a good starting point?
Next got car back from repair shop, timing was monkeyed with car ran so-so Dwell was about 22 and timing 9 btdc (as Found). Got car home, and let set for a cuple of days. Was hard to start? Would start without removing air cleaner and cranking about 10 times and pump the gas alot.
Got it running but not smooth or right. Got a new Sear Advanced Timing Light with 0-60 dial. Nice Timing light, But I managed to break it in about 2 hours and 5 tries. Best timing position before breaking light was dwell 29, timing 8 BTDC.
Here's what I managed to do, I burned the plastic cased induction pickup on the exhaust manifold bad enough (near Plug 1 and 2) that it would not stay closed. Shoot!
Package says leads are melt resistant, don't believe it. Anyway, brought it back to Sears (only 3 months old) and with a few questions and complaining to a Manager, I got a new one.
Now, how do Protect this new one? A friend's timing light that I used to borrow has a metal induction pickup, but all the the new Timing Lights are plastic.
Any Ideas on protecting this plastic induction pickup?
P.s. Where does one hook to the battery or 12 volts for a timing light on a vette? Bubba before me broke open the alternator + boot and negative side is bare, so that what I used.
What's correct or a good starting point?
Next got car back from repair shop, timing was monkeyed with car ran so-so Dwell was about 22 and timing 9 btdc (as Found). Got car home, and let set for a cuple of days. Was hard to start? Would start without removing air cleaner and cranking about 10 times and pump the gas alot.
Got it running but not smooth or right. Got a new Sear Advanced Timing Light with 0-60 dial. Nice Timing light, But I managed to break it in about 2 hours and 5 tries. Best timing position before breaking light was dwell 29, timing 8 BTDC.
Here's what I managed to do, I burned the plastic cased induction pickup on the exhaust manifold bad enough (near Plug 1 and 2) that it would not stay closed. Shoot!
Package says leads are melt resistant, don't believe it. Anyway, brought it back to Sears (only 3 months old) and with a few questions and complaining to a Manager, I got a new one.
Now, how do Protect this new one? A friend's timing light that I used to borrow has a metal induction pickup, but all the the new Timing Lights are plastic.
Any Ideas on protecting this plastic induction pickup?
P.s. Where does one hook to the battery or 12 volts for a timing light on a vette? Bubba before me broke open the alternator + boot and negative side is bare, so that what I used.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
Can't help you with the pickup, except to suggest aluminum foil. I also use the alternator for 12v, but pull the cover back without ripping it. The dwell and timing numbers you settled on sound good, maybe a couple of more degrees BTDC if it doesn't ping or become hard to start when hot. You should get one of those cheap advance kits and experiment with lighter springs (don't use the weights). Chevy's like advance. Joe
