Timing question
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Trailering
Joined: Jun 2024
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Timing question
I‘ve been undoing a lot of work the previous owner did and now I discovered he has the wrong spark plugs in gapped at .039. I ordered new plugs with the correct gap of .044.
I’m also wondering if he installed the distributor the right way. So I timed my 400 to 18 degrees and it seems to run well there. I then cranked the engine over by hand so the rotor lined up with the number one spark plug wire on the distributor. The mark on the harmonic balancer reads 22 degrees.
How can this be? Should it not read 18 degrees?
I’m also wondering if he installed the distributor the right way. So I timed my 400 to 18 degrees and it seems to run well there. I then cranked the engine over by hand so the rotor lined up with the number one spark plug wire on the distributor. The mark on the harmonic balancer reads 22 degrees.
How can this be? Should it not read 18 degrees?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,837
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You can gap the plugs to whatever you want. the difference between .039 and .044 is meaningless.
4 degrees is hardly noticeable visually don't worry about it. what you really need to do is take a dial back and check your curve. that matters.
4 degrees is hardly noticeable visually don't worry about it. what you really need to do is take a dial back and check your curve. that matters.
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Trailering
Joined: Jun 2024
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The spark plugs aren’t even listed for the engine and they’re black. I’m used increasing the gap, not decreasing it.
I ordered a dial back timing light, so thanks for the advice on that one as it should make things a lot easier.
I ordered a dial back timing light, so thanks for the advice on that one as it should make things a lot easier.
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Trailering
Joined: Jun 2024
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I thought if you installed the distributor with the number one at TDC and ran the engine, shut it off and put it to TDC the rotor would align with #1 spark plug wire. Maybe it doesn’t work that way or I’m missing something. It’s been a while and my current light is very basic.
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Trailering
Joined: Jun 2024
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
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That's easy. disconnect your vac advance and plug it. set your initial to spec, rev the engine to 2500-3000 and with your dial back see what your mechanical is all in. on a V8 normally 32-38, I assume a 6 is the same. then if it's in the zone hook your vacuum advance back up to ported and see where you are all in.. 45-60 normally depending on the engine and conditions.
If your curve isn't off very much sometimes you can just correct it by changing the initial. if that isn't possible then you work on weights and springs.
If your curve isn't off very much sometimes you can just correct it by changing the initial. if that isn't possible then you work on weights and springs.
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More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 638
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From: Southwest Missouri
It wouldn't hurt to take a closer look at the rubber layer on your harmonic balancer if it is original. This layer is known to shrink over time resulting in slippage of the balancer. You can add a new timing label using TDC as a guide, but if it's slipping it should probably be replaced.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 352
From: Anderson, California
You said you had it running pretty good with the 22-degrees showing.
What I would do is time it to your fuel.
Advance your timing in incrememts until it pings on hard acceleration.
Then at that point, back your timing off a smidgen until no pinging is experienced. Done.
Now, you'll be working on dialing-in your idle mixure and speed to your liking, and enjoy.
Hopefully, at this point, the engine will not kick-back against the starter. If so, then retard the timing a sckosh.
Keep us posted.
What I would do is time it to your fuel.
Advance your timing in incrememts until it pings on hard acceleration.
Then at that point, back your timing off a smidgen until no pinging is experienced. Done.
Now, you'll be working on dialing-in your idle mixure and speed to your liking, and enjoy.
Hopefully, at this point, the engine will not kick-back against the starter. If so, then retard the timing a sckosh.
Keep us posted.
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Trailering
Joined: Jun 2024
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I got home on Friday and Saturday I worked on finding TDC. I rotated the engine and when I got on the compression stroke I kept moving the piston until it stopped moving. It lined up on 3 degrees before TDC. I then rotated the engine in the other direction doing the same thing and noted the position on the balancer. The middle point of both marks was 0 degrees before TDC.
So it looks like the 0 degrees is bang on. I also checked the timing and it’s 17 degrees before TDC.
The odd thing is, now I’ve got the correct spark plugs in there is no vacuum at idle on the carb’s port, whereas before I had about 16 Hg. If I give it some gas the vacuum increases. Any idea why this would change?
So it looks like the 0 degrees is bang on. I also checked the timing and it’s 17 degrees before TDC.
The odd thing is, now I’ve got the correct spark plugs in there is no vacuum at idle on the carb’s port, whereas before I had about 16 Hg. If I give it some gas the vacuum increases. Any idea why this would change?
