Timing Problems

[72bronco1963]

Just bought a '72 bronco with a rebuilt 302. Timing seems to be an issue. I have it timed at 6 degrees BTDC with the Vacuum advance disconnected. Doesn't seem right. The timing indicator has an eyelet hole at the bottom and a pointer at the top. I have been using the pointer. Should I be using the eyelet? I would appreciate any help. Thanks.

[Boba Fett]

It's hard to tell. It the pointer on the drivers or passenger's side? Try using the timing lgiht on the opposite side of the engine from the pointer and see if there are marks over there too. Most replacement balancers have two sets of timing marks....

Six degrees is not enough timing. The cam is a modern cam? In a 302 eight BTDC is the least most modern cams will run well on. Ten is a good baseline most of the time.

Timing works like this.... you can run as much as you want until the engine pings under load and will not start when hot.... the more you run the faster you will run, and the less load you will be able to pull before the engine will ping.

Why so little timing?

[72bronco1963]

I will try advancing it a little more. It definitely ran better with more timing. thanks for the advise. I will give it a shot tomorrow. Everything I read on the internet said 6 degrees BTDC. I will see how it goes.