My New Engine Pings
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 5
From: Delaware
I am using a Mallory Unilite Dist. The Ford dist. is OK, but you have to get the right curve and aside from Torque1st, there are few who can help.
Have you tried disconnecting the vacuum advance and plugging it?
Have you measured your total advance at part throttle?
BTW, aside from the pinging how is that motor running?
Have you tried disconnecting the vacuum advance and plugging it?
Have you measured your total advance at part throttle?
BTW, aside from the pinging how is that motor running?
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
I have not been able to pickup a new vacuum advance unit yet, so I adjusted my current modulator another full turn out and set the timing down to 20. From the specs above, can anyone estimate what my timing should be set to? It idles pretty good at 20, but it also idled pretty good at 35, although the rpms were higher.
I took it for a short trip around the block and the ping seemed MUCH less severe. I will check some more tomorrow, and get it out on the highway, but I am impressed with how much difference only 1 more turn of the modulator made.
Eric, if you don't mind answering another question for me, what kind of ignition setup do you think Tim Meyer used on that 400 build he did? I read through the post and some on his website (the flashing text has go to go...)and I saw that he switched from the HEI dist. to a MSD dist, but I don't know what vacuum (or mechanical) advance he used, or coil, module, etc. I think I may call him tomorrow and ask...I got my pistons from him, so he might remember me.
Thanks again for all the help.
I took it for a short trip around the block and the ping seemed MUCH less severe. I will check some more tomorrow, and get it out on the highway, but I am impressed with how much difference only 1 more turn of the modulator made.
Eric, if you don't mind answering another question for me, what kind of ignition setup do you think Tim Meyer used on that 400 build he did? I read through the post and some on his website (the flashing text has go to go...)and I saw that he switched from the HEI dist. to a MSD dist, but I don't know what vacuum (or mechanical) advance he used, or coil, module, etc. I think I may call him tomorrow and ask...I got my pistons from him, so he might remember me.
Thanks again for all the help.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
Danlee,
I submitted that last thread before I saw your post.
Yes, I have tried disconnecting the vacuum advance ang plugging it, and no change.
I don't have an advance timing light, so I measured part throttle with my regular light just 15 min ago. I set the base timing to 20, and from what I could tell, it didn't advance much past 35-40. Of course, this was completely by human-eye, so I can't be 100% certain. I have not found anyone with an advance timing light yet, so I don't know quite how to check that.
The engine runs great. It sounds good, pulls strong, and starts right up every morning. I have a feeling that it would pull a little stronger if I could get this ignition problem fixed and rid of the ping.
I submitted that last thread before I saw your post.
Yes, I have tried disconnecting the vacuum advance ang plugging it, and no change.
I don't have an advance timing light, so I measured part throttle with my regular light just 15 min ago. I set the base timing to 20, and from what I could tell, it didn't advance much past 35-40. Of course, this was completely by human-eye, so I can't be 100% certain. I have not found anyone with an advance timing light yet, so I don't know quite how to check that.
The engine runs great. It sounds good, pulls strong, and starts right up every morning. I have a feeling that it would pull a little stronger if I could get this ignition problem fixed and rid of the ping.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 5
From: Delaware
You have the intial timing at 20 degrees BTDC? I think that is part of your problem. I run my initial advance about 8 degrees ABDC and I have 24 degrees mechanical advance for a total of 32 degrees.
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
Likes: 9
From: iowa
Originally Posted by kc5hwb
Yes, I saw that he used the MSD dist, but I don't know what kind of advance mechanisms those MSD dists have.
Well now I run one with no advance but that is a different issue.
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
Ok, I am going to prove how much of an idiot I am when I say this....
On my balancer, there are 5 marks....10-0-10-20-30. I assumed that the side with the 20 and 30 marks was the ATDC side. The engine is currently set to the 20. BTW, when you look at the balancer with the engine off, from the front of the truck, pass side, the 10 is on the left of the 0, then the 10-20-30 to the right of the 0.
The engine WILL NOT idle below the 10 mark to the right of the 0. When I run the idle up, the timing marks move further to the left, where I would estimate a 35-40 mark to be IF it was there, which it is not.
This is why I don't quit my day job....
On my balancer, there are 5 marks....10-0-10-20-30. I assumed that the side with the 20 and 30 marks was the ATDC side. The engine is currently set to the 20. BTW, when you look at the balancer with the engine off, from the front of the truck, pass side, the 10 is on the left of the 0, then the 10-20-30 to the right of the 0.
The engine WILL NOT idle below the 10 mark to the right of the 0. When I run the idle up, the timing marks move further to the left, where I would estimate a 35-40 mark to be IF it was there, which it is not.
This is why I don't quit my day job....
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 5
From: Delaware
The timing should be set to xx degrees BTDC. The BTDC marks will be the first marks visible as the crankshaft rotates in the normal direction. I believe they are the 10-20-30 marks. If you have initial timing set to 20 degrees BTDC, and you have 25 degrees mechanical advance, you will have a total advance of 45 degrees. That is way too much. You need to solve your idle problem, so you can get it to idle with 10 degrees or less.
Have you set the idle mixture with the mixture screws?
Do you have a vacuum leak?
Is the idle rough?
Have you set the idle mixture with the mixture screws?
Do you have a vacuum leak?
Is the idle rough?
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
Upon first start of the motor, the machine shop who did my build and head work set the mixture on the carb. I took it for granted he did it right. I will look again.
No vacuum leak that I know of. Certainly not a hissing sound, and a very smooth idle. Really, except for the pinging when on the highway, the motor runs great. I really can't complain at all, which is why I am so baffled.
No vacuum leak that I know of. Certainly not a hissing sound, and a very smooth idle. Really, except for the pinging when on the highway, the motor runs great. I really can't complain at all, which is why I am so baffled.