L98 Timing Help....
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
I recently went over my 89 vette and one of the things I checked was the timing. Thought it might be in order since I did some mods such as MAT sensor move, air foil, cooling switch. First would any of these things change the timing? I would think not, but I guess if I knew I wouldn't be asking. I found the timing way advanced...~6*. The car always ran fairly well with no noticable problems, but I moved it back to 6* as noted on the radiator. The car seems to pull harder throughout the RPMs. Is it possible to get better results with the timing advanced. I recently ordered a laptop and all the equipment to program chips. If anyone else with my mods adn similiar car could help me out with advice/bin file to compair to mine it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a million and everyone here is so helpful. Thanks again.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Not sure what your numbers above mean, but I interpret them as initially set at -6 and you reset to +6 degrees (or 6 degrees ATDC reset to 6 degrees BTDC). None of the modifications should make any difference since the ECM is disconnected during the timing process and the advance that is set (6 degrees) is the "base" setting from which the ECM will work from the timing tables.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 3
From: Lafayette IN
As mentioned, the chip in your car tells the computer that the engine is set initially at 6 DBTDC. If you set it to 10 DBTDC, the computer still thinks it is at 6, and therefore, timing will be advanced across the entire RPM/load range. You might run into a detonation problem with this. Check for spark control counts and degrees taken out when you get the laptop hooked up with scanning software. -Matt-
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
I also did my timing over the weekend (I have a hard start problem). Mine was less than 0 deg. per the gauge on the engine. I checked my distrubutor and I could move it with my hand (bolt was already loose!) 
Anyway I advanced it +6 deg (per the label on the car) and tighten the bolt. Car does seem to have more pull, but my hard start problem is still there (a bit better maybe?).
Anyway I advanced it +6 deg (per the label on the car) and tighten the bolt. Car does seem to have more pull, but my hard start problem is still there (a bit better maybe?).
