Timing woes solved (I think)
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
Timing woes solved (I think)
This is strange. I borrowed my buddies autozone timing light the last time I timed the engine. I set it to about 14BTDC to keep the stock dizzy from advancing too far. I had to open the throttle blades quite a bit to get it to idle at 800. Also it was very cold blooded. And was getting tons of gas from the power valve as my vacuum at startup must have been way less than 6.5HG. I just got my summit timing light and hooked it up to see where my timng was and it showed my initial at like 15 degrees ATC! I moved the timing to 12BTDC and boy does it run better! I had a feeling something was funny about the way it was timed but that is redicuous! Have any of you had a timing light be off that far? That doesn't even seem possible for it to have a delay like that. His timing light was kinda funny though. After 2,500 or so it stopped functioning. I have the MSD dizzy and 6AL but I am waiting for the HEI type boots to come in.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
I've had timing lights thrown off by high output ignitions, including the DUI and the MSD. My solution was to power the tl with a spare battery rather than having it connected it in the circuit, and its always worked fine. I've seen recomendations for independently battery powered tl's for these apps which gave me the idea. It really depends on the brand of tl though...some seem more senstive to the HO ignitions. Might have been what happened...?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
The spare battery idea is not bad. I could just pull the car up and leave its engine off and jumper from there. I sure feel better now. I was wondering why my truck wanted so much advance. I was kinda getting worried about the balancer slipping. Whew!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 46
From: Kemmerer, Wyoming
I've seen cheaper. lower quality timing lights give a different reading than more expensive ones before. I think they are just like any other diagnostic tool... you get what you pay for. Even though it defies common sense in this case.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
Yeah, its wierd. I would think if it was that far out of whack it would just not work but my new timing light has the ability to change the timing readin 60 degrees via a dial on the back to help check total timing. This tells me that a faulty gun can show a delay. I'll have to let my buddy know his gun is off.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,934
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From: iowa
i tend to notice every couple of degrees myself. If i was on 15 atdc i would have no power. I have 40 degrees total and i think my engine is weak. ratsmoker you should borrow his light again and compare readings with the new summit one.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Missouri
I plan on it. I am also going to go to the base hobby shop and zap it with their light. Unfortunately my buddy will be gone until april. The engine was pretty unresponsive. Now its got a whole bunch. I'm still having carb problems. I posted it in the carb forum.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: iowa
i finally got my truck running right thanks to you ratsmoker, i am set at 12 now and she is running strong, and also like you i still have the same carb problems, need to get a better carb someday soon or i will have to drive slow by your house.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
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From: Missouri
I'm glad I could help you out. I wish my carb would act right now. I might need to get a rebuild kit. Well my total timing is now 48 degrees and its all in at 2,500 rpm. I need to get that MSD installed bad. It does let out a bad ping when you step on it now. Don't bring your truck to me with a carb problem that is too complicated. You will be wasting your gas! 
I am not a carb genius by any stretch of the imagination. I plan on mastering that after I master the C6. That should tak a while!
I am not a carb genius by any stretch of the imagination. I plan on mastering that after I master the C6. That should tak a while!
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,934
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From: iowa
10:1 and 48 degrees is just the recipe for pinging. My truck seemed to like the degrees but not the pinging of course. What is your vaccum advance ratsmoker. i am just curious cause mine is 20 degrees and my mechanical is another 10.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
I don't run vacuum advance. The MSD doesn't have it either. That is why I bring the total in early. What kind of distributor do you run that lets you limit the mechanical to 10 degrees?
Edit: N/M you said another 10! I need more coffee.
Edit: N/M you said another 10! I need more coffee.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,417
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From: Durham, NC
Are you sure the light from Autozone didn't have a "degree dial" on it also?? The light is not slow, if it was, you would be advancing your timing farther than what it actually was to compensate for the slow light. In this case, it's giving indications of firing TOO fast,
so you have to retard the timing to make it look right.....
so you have to retard the timing to make it look right.....
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
Well under WOT the vacuum advance does nothing and I don't spend a lot of time anywhere else for the most part. I do drive it to work (1mile) but mileage really isn't a concern. For a daily driver a properly setup vacuum advance is what I would want.