Power timing
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
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From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Power timing
OK, this is not for the faint of heart. Don't do this if you have an ailing engine.
You got your engine pretty squared away and you might have done some mods and the stock timing isn't getting it. So this is an old timers, (note pun) method that works like a charm. It tends to freak some people but without a dyno and a distributor machine, this will get it spot on for whatever advance curve is built in.
You need a helper and a tach. Disconnect and plug the vacuum advance line. Have your helper run the rpms up to 2800. Then pull a plug wire. Readjust rpms back to 2800. Pull another plug wire and readjust rpm. Keep pulling plug wires until it will barely hold 2800, then turn your distributor, adjusting for maximum rpm, then lock it down right there.
Shut it off, reconnect the plug wires. Start it up and rev it a few times to clear it out, then adjust the idle and check the idle advance with your timing light. That is your new initial timing setting so make a note of it. Reconnect the vacuum advance.
You got your engine pretty squared away and you might have done some mods and the stock timing isn't getting it. So this is an old timers, (note pun) method that works like a charm. It tends to freak some people but without a dyno and a distributor machine, this will get it spot on for whatever advance curve is built in.
You need a helper and a tach. Disconnect and plug the vacuum advance line. Have your helper run the rpms up to 2800. Then pull a plug wire. Readjust rpms back to 2800. Pull another plug wire and readjust rpm. Keep pulling plug wires until it will barely hold 2800, then turn your distributor, adjusting for maximum rpm, then lock it down right there.
Shut it off, reconnect the plug wires. Start it up and rev it a few times to clear it out, then adjust the idle and check the idle advance with your timing light. That is your new initial timing setting so make a note of it. Reconnect the vacuum advance.
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