timing advice
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Fall River N.S.
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timing advice
Can anyone advise in a simple one step at a time method how I can set the timing on my 1971 454 engine. It has a eccell electronic Distributor and coil and it does not seem to matter where I set the distributor I have pinging and after shut down runon.Is this something best left to experts or can a reasonably intelligent individual with some basic skills get the job done? Please 
help!!!!
help!!!!
Last edited by runamuck; Oct 18, 2004 at 04:52 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,527
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From: St. Petersburg, Fl///Columbus, Ohio
with good fuel in the tank if all your Vacume lines are hooked up properly & the springs are OK in the dist ... Stick a 9/16ths wrench in your pocket & go for a spin... retard the timing a LITTLE at a time until the Pinging Stops. Then adjust your idle speed..... Then check your Timing with a light & see where it's set & post your Base timing!!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Fountain Hills AZ
If the engine still has the stock compression ratio it shouldn't have any problem with unleaded premium unless something is wrong elsewhere. While pinging is usually the result of too much advance, run-on is more likely caused by too little advance combined with a high idle speed. Another possiblility is a hot spot inside the combustion chamber (rough edge, carbon build up, etc.).
Have you mapped your advance curve? Coming in too quick for your combination could cause pinging even though your initial and total are ok. I'd start with setting your total to 36º (BB's often like even more)and see if the problem goes away. When setting total be sure to rev it high enough so that all advance is in. Some guys will tell you to set it at a particular rpm but, unless your particular distributor happens to acheive max advance at or below that rpm, you'll have a bogus setting.
Have you mapped your advance curve? Coming in too quick for your combination could cause pinging even though your initial and total are ok. I'd start with setting your total to 36º (BB's often like even more)and see if the problem goes away. When setting total be sure to rev it high enough so that all advance is in. Some guys will tell you to set it at a particular rpm but, unless your particular distributor happens to acheive max advance at or below that rpm, you'll have a bogus setting.
