Which direction to advance timing?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 212
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Which direction to advance timing?
On my 89 tpi, when im looking down at the distributor cap, do i "tighten" it (turn clockwise) or "loosen" it (turn counterclockwise) to ADVANCE the timing? I did a new cap and rotor and wiggled the distrubitor all over the place. I was planning on advancing it until it pings then backing off. Which is how ive timed everything ive owned lol. I know its ludacris.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 413
From: WV
counterclockwise is advance .You really need to get a timing light ..You can get them for $20.00..Not having the timing set exactly right can cause problems....WW
When in dought look on youtube...
When in dought look on youtube...
Last edited by WW7; Aug 27, 2014 at 03:29 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
Ludicrous to say the least. do as WW says, and get a timing light. as I recall 6 degrees BTDC is stock - some say the L98 runs a tad better at 8.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
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From: Hartford WI
It does sound crazy to advance till it pings since the knock sensor will retard timing as much as it can. Furthermore, you can't be listening for knock under most conditions unless it is more severe. That is what the knock sensor is for.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
It does sound crazy to advance till it pings since the knock sensor will retard timing as much as it can. Furthermore, you can't be listening for knock under most conditions unless it is more severe. That is what the knock sensor is for.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
I'd set it at 6 since that is what the ECM is setting the advance off. Mustang is the same. They have their hacks that simply adjust timing any which way and hope for the best. I have my advance set in the EPROM. I had it dyno tuned. If you have a larger waist, getting a set of pants 2 sizes up might also make the legs too long.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Anaheim CA
6 degrees is programmed into the ECM. If you change it to 8 degrees it probably won't be a problem. If you get too radical with the advance you can get knock because the ECM thinks it's at 6 but has no way to know you changed it to something else. This becomes important at higher RPM when the ECM adds advance.
If you get a custom EPROM you can have it programmed to any initial advance you want so the problem goes away in that case.
If you get a custom EPROM you can have it programmed to any initial advance you want so the problem goes away in that case.