MSD timing
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Joined: Apr 2002
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MSD timing
I need a little help tuning in my ignition system. I have put an MSD 6, Blaster 2 coil, and MSD pro billit distributor on my 302. My initial timing is set about 8btdc. I've been playing with my centrifugal advance springs and the advance stop bushing, but i'm not really sure what advance curve and bushing combo will give me best results. The motor only winds out to 4000-4200 RPM, so I assume that's where I want my full advance, right? Another question is do I want to use the centrifugal and vaccum advances at the same time, or one or the other?
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From: Durham
MSD timing
You should be able to advance your setup to around 14 BTDC. Gap your plugs around 50 rather than the .44 recommended from the factory. You will want your total advance around 36-38 and this should come in somewhere between 2500-3000 rpms. You need to set your timing and advance with the vacuum removed and the hose plugged. The vacuum advance is only measurable under load conditions so it is difficult to near impossible to develop a vacuum advance curve. If you are looking for peak power and not concerned with mileage, you don't need your vacuum advance. The vacuum advance will give you better mileage by even further advancing the distributor at cruising speeds.
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Durham
MSD timing
Loads...it's somewhat a difficult swap, but very satisfying...I struggled with a multitude of items and never did resolve some...let me know where you want to start, and what you are planning to do...
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bealeton Virginia
MSD timing
I'm running the MSD 6A and billet distributor as well -- very nice setup -- when i tuned mine i kept stepping up the advance curve and then going out and making hard pulls on the motor -- i listened for spark knock and once i got it to ping I took the advance down 2 stages (just shy of detonation is the highest ignition efficiency). Inititial timing is a different animal -- if you have a manual trans 12-14 is ideal, and if you have an automatic 6-8 is ideal (if you have an automatic with a high stall converter you can up this value). The caveat with base timing is the starting equation - if you have a mild motor with conservative compression this is not a prob -- but if you have a big cam and lots of compression you could have a hard time starting the motor, in which case you would have to sacrifice some base timing or install an MSD start/retard box which would electronically retard your base timing to start the motor.
Chris Seay
Bealeton VA
'49 F-1s &'68 F-100
Chris Seay
Bealeton VA
'49 F-1s &'68 F-100
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,100
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From: Durham
MSD timing
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 27-Apr-02 AT 09:50 AM (EST)]I run 12-14 on my 351W with a C6 automatic and stock torque converter. Another option from MSD is to buy their adjustable timing control and you can manually retard the timing for starting.
What color springs and stop did you end up using on your MSD distributor? I have one also, but just dropped it in from the factory and let it run. What kind of total advance are you running and when does it come in?
What color springs and stop did you end up using on your MSD distributor? I have one also, but just dropped it in from the factory and let it run. What kind of total advance are you running and when does it come in?
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