Set timing on a 302 - Using only vac gauge?
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: San Diego, CA
Set timing on a 302 - Using only vac gauge?
Hi,
Have been working on fine-tuning the engine in the car lately. I think I've got the carburetor all figured out. Now I'm starting to look at the timing.
I read a thread about setting timing by using only a manifold vac gauge. Basicly what it said that you could advance the timing until you started to get a peak value. I tried it a bit but while advancing the timing, the engine idle rose quite high (to +2000 rpm) without reaching its peak value. Im running about 18 inches of vacuum at this setting
Is the only way to set the timing correctly to get a timing light?
The reason for me checking up on these things is the low mileage we get (10-12mpg careful driving). I see people getting told to expect above 15mpg in a truck with the 302 engine. The engine is in a normal car, that would increase its mileage, right?
Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!
Have been working on fine-tuning the engine in the car lately. I think I've got the carburetor all figured out. Now I'm starting to look at the timing.
I read a thread about setting timing by using only a manifold vac gauge. Basicly what it said that you could advance the timing until you started to get a peak value. I tried it a bit but while advancing the timing, the engine idle rose quite high (to +2000 rpm) without reaching its peak value. Im running about 18 inches of vacuum at this setting
Is the only way to set the timing correctly to get a timing light?
The reason for me checking up on these things is the low mileage we get (10-12mpg careful driving). I see people getting told to expect above 15mpg in a truck with the 302 engine. The engine is in a normal car, that would increase its mileage, right?
Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 39
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From: San Diego, CA
Okey, so i got myself a timing light and went out to the car to take a look.
Let it warm up to operating temperature and them hooked up the timing light. Also marked 10 degrees BTDC on the flywheel and set the timing light to 0 degrees advance.
Started the engine and pulled the trigger on the timing light, and the timing was apparently way off because the pointer didn't align itself with any of the markings on the flywheel. I then tried to twist the distributor to get it to 10 degrees BTDC but failed.
I then twisted the timing advance on the timing light, and got the needle to align with the 10 degree BTDC mark at 42 degrees advance on the light. This should equal out to about 32 degrees advance right, which is way to much but we haven't experienced any pinging ?
Now I'm asking for the potential reason for this. Im completely new to changing timing, so please bear with me.
Thanks for your help!
Let it warm up to operating temperature and them hooked up the timing light. Also marked 10 degrees BTDC on the flywheel and set the timing light to 0 degrees advance.
Started the engine and pulled the trigger on the timing light, and the timing was apparently way off because the pointer didn't align itself with any of the markings on the flywheel. I then tried to twist the distributor to get it to 10 degrees BTDC but failed.
I then twisted the timing advance on the timing light, and got the needle to align with the 10 degree BTDC mark at 42 degrees advance on the light. This should equal out to about 32 degrees advance right, which is way to much but we haven't experienced any pinging ?
Now I'm asking for the potential reason for this. Im completely new to changing timing, so please bear with me.
Thanks for your help!
Cranky Old Guy
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,562
Likes: 6
From: Raphine, Virginia
Did you disconnect and plug vacuum advance at carb? If it is idling high, lower the idle setting. If your marks are at 10*BTDC, set timing light at zero. Make sure light is hooked to #1 plug wire.
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Freshman User
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From: San Diego, CA
There's no vacuum advance on my distributor and yes the light was hooked to number 1 plug wire.
When i set the timing light to zero, the timing marks on the flywheel don't align at all, the pointer is completely outside the scale. Im thinking that if the timing were correct without showing correct, i would expect better fuel consumption than 11 mpg in a car with 3.00 gears?
When i set the timing light to zero, the timing marks on the flywheel don't align at all, the pointer is completely outside the scale. Im thinking that if the timing were correct without showing correct, i would expect better fuel consumption than 11 mpg in a car with 3.00 gears?
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Freshman User
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From: San Diego, CA
Actually, i don't know. Ive done some reading and it seems likely it has slipped. Figured I'd try to twist it myself, but also realized that if i would be able to turn it by hand, the whole thing would probably just spin around when the engine is running. 
Is the only way knowing if it has slipped removing the belt and pulley on the crankshaft to get to the balancer?
Is the only way knowing if it has slipped removing the belt and pulley on the crankshaft to get to the balancer?
Cranky Old Guy
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,562
Likes: 6
From: Raphine, Virginia
Bring #1 cylinder to TDC on compression stroke. Timing marks should match up. If not, balancer has slipped. A 302 in a heavy pickup is not going to get much mileage. 15mpg is going to be pushing it.
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Freshman User
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From: San Diego, CA
The engine is in a 1967 Cougar weighing about 3000 lbs with 3.00 gears, thats why i figured it would do better than a heavy pickup. But I've been wrong before
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The problem with trying to set timing with a vacuum gage is that the engine will LOVE the advanced timing with no load. Of course once you put it in gear and drive, that will change.
I would not be surprised if you really are set at 32 degrees. It won't ping until you drive it. I'd recommend starting around 8 degrees and advancing a couple degrees at a time until you hear the ping under heavy load, or performance suffers, then go back to a previous best setting. Don't drive it when it pings.
It would still be good to verify your timing marks are accurate though.
I would not be surprised if you really are set at 32 degrees. It won't ping until you drive it. I'd recommend starting around 8 degrees and advancing a couple degrees at a time until you hear the ping under heavy load, or performance suffers, then go back to a previous best setting. Don't drive it when it pings.
It would still be good to verify your timing marks are accurate though.
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