WTK: Timing problems
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 473
Likes: 8
From: Shreveport LA
WTK: Timing problems
I finally determined that my MSD box was the reason for all of my ignition woes. In the process of determining that, I goofed with my timing thinking it had somehow fallen off the mark.
After I installed the new box I did unplugged the timing connector and set my timing to 12 degrees advance at idle. I believe the tag under the hood says 6 degrees, but of all the posts I found here in the archives, everyone was talking about 12 degrees advance at idle. I'm running a ZZ3 crate motor, but I see no reason why timing settings should be different from any other 350c.i. engine. Someone educate me otherwise if I'm wrong. :smash:
After setting timing at 12 degrees at idle, the car will not idle on its own, and its very sluggish. Obviosly not the proper timing setting. Do I need to reset the ECM after reattaching the timing connector? Is my chosen setting off? Gotta get rolling today so please throw me a bone on this one!
After I installed the new box I did unplugged the timing connector and set my timing to 12 degrees advance at idle. I believe the tag under the hood says 6 degrees, but of all the posts I found here in the archives, everyone was talking about 12 degrees advance at idle. I'm running a ZZ3 crate motor, but I see no reason why timing settings should be different from any other 350c.i. engine. Someone educate me otherwise if I'm wrong. :smash:
After setting timing at 12 degrees at idle, the car will not idle on its own, and its very sluggish. Obviosly not the proper timing setting. Do I need to reset the ECM after reattaching the timing connector? Is my chosen setting off? Gotta get rolling today so please throw me a bone on this one!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 1
From: Enter Post Count Here
Re: WTK: Timing problems (ROME)
Couple Questions/Possibilites
Does your motor have any sort of cam-advance?
How old is the Torsion Damper?
How does the car run at 6 degrees?
Which connector did you disconnect? The little beige one by the vacuum-boost for the brakes, right? Does it idle/run well with that disconnected? Also, just to check, you had the timing light hooked to the front left spark plug lead(#1), correct?
The way I would do it is to get the car idling good without the timing light or computer advance hooked up, then check to see where it is. If the cam is advanced, you'll need to advance the timing +whatever the cam is advanced, and there is a possibility that the timing mark has slipped, in which case you should replace the tortion damper soon...or there's a chance that there was no key installed on the crank, so the tortion damper might spin.
All of these could cause improper timing. Good luck!
[Modified by NoWorries, 11:28 AM 1/20/2003]
Does your motor have any sort of cam-advance?
How old is the Torsion Damper?
How does the car run at 6 degrees?
Which connector did you disconnect? The little beige one by the vacuum-boost for the brakes, right? Does it idle/run well with that disconnected? Also, just to check, you had the timing light hooked to the front left spark plug lead(#1), correct?
The way I would do it is to get the car idling good without the timing light or computer advance hooked up, then check to see where it is. If the cam is advanced, you'll need to advance the timing +whatever the cam is advanced, and there is a possibility that the timing mark has slipped, in which case you should replace the tortion damper soon...or there's a chance that there was no key installed on the crank, so the tortion damper might spin.
All of these could cause improper timing. Good luck!
[Modified by NoWorries, 11:28 AM 1/20/2003]
