I had a lengthy conversation with a pro tuner who builds and tunes racing engines. He was very kind and polite.

He told me he's NEVER heard of anything like what is happening to me but made a few points that I feel compelled to share.


1. A lean mixture will not cause PING. Ping is a result of timing only. If the mixture leans out the power will just "Fall Off" as he stated.
2. If the engine accelerates smoothly and doesn't "Surge" or hesitate or go flat he seriously doubts there is an issue with the distributor itself like something binding.
3. At cruising speed while adding throttle, the engine is experiencing a steady load increase that WOT doesn't need to handle.
4. When using WOT as the criteria used for setting max initial timing, the engine RPM can actually get through the range of maximum torque so quickly that ping might not be noticed without sophisticated test equipment.
5. Knowing that the fuel in Iowa IS JUNK for performance engines he suspects the difference is the OCTANE. I told him I'm running 91 octane with no ethanol. The very best available here.


Conclusion 4/3/2017

He suggested that I add a quality octane booster and try again.

thanks guys. You are the best.

DEVELOPING

 

That's slightly on the low side actually. 34, 36, 38, or more, depending on compression or other factors, is typical for V8. That's with pump gas. Ethanol laced, even.

There's no need to guess. For God's sake man, Run it up with a light and see what it's doing.

I didn't suggest you restrict or retard anything beyond actual spec, but, something isn't adjusted correctly, or measured properly, defective, whatever the case. So you have some kind an indicating error versus actual. See where I'm goin' with that?

Until you measure what the curve is doing you're just guessing. Maybe get the pro tuner guy to fix it for you, since you can't seem to be bothered to perform any of the simple tests recommended by anyone here.

 

It's essentially an oxygen sensor, but instead of a computer looking at the output, you are.
Here is an example:
PLX Devices 897346002719: DM-6 + SM-AFR Wideband Gauge Combo Wideband Air/Fuel Ratio Oxygen Sensor Controller | JEGS
They are great for tuning if you really get a good grasp of reading it. Sometimes the output can seem counterintuitive, but with a little practice it can turn into one of the most useful tools for carb tuning you've ever had.

 

Thanks, Six. For a bit I thought I was AFU'd.

 

Air Fuel Ratio.

 

I am broke.
I do not have a timing lite that reads out timing as I have it running.
Old school..just a light.

I am broke. BARELY surviving. Im not able to buy much of anything.
Old school...fly by the seat of my pants.

I gave up. I just retarded the ignition until no more ping.

Thanks all for putting up with me.

The numbers I gave were an estimate, not measured.

Bill

 

You can actually map out your timing curve even if you don't have a dial style timing light. Using a flexible tape measure, see what the distance is from TDC and 10* on the damper. Then keep marking it off, ever 5* around until 50-60* is marked on the balancer. Use a pencil if you have to or some kind of white paint marker for something a bit more lasting. They make stick on timing tape, but a pencil will also do the trick.

Start truck and idle. Write down what the timing is. Rev it to 1500 rpm and read it again off your marks. Go to 2000 rpm and do it again. Repeat til you get to 3500 rpm or so(as high as you want, it doesn't matter). Now look at the numbers you wrote down. This is the timing curve and you can now play with things and see how you can change it. No real cost involved, just some time on a Saturday afternoon.

 

sounds like your carb is over advancing the timing at mid throttle, mine did the same thing but it just bogged down. make sure you distributers vacume advance is connected to the port right above the throttle bladed and make sure it gets no vacume at idle.

 

Like Freightrain said use a piece of tape on your damper to see the actual timing. Don't stick the timing light in the fan.