initial vs total timing

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Jan 11, 2009 | 02:05 PM

bigcountry1009

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Tuned

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From: Upstate SC

initial vs total timing

How would I check total timing and the speed that it comes in and out. how would i adjust it?

Jan 11, 2009 | 03:33 PM

Conanski

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From: Ottawa, Ontario

It really depends what motor you're working on and if it has a mechanical or electronic distributor and carb or EFI.

Jan 12, 2009 | 08:15 AM

mark a.

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You would check it with a tach & a timing light. Make sure you unplug the dizzy and plug it's hose off while doing it. Adjusting it would depend on your how your motor is built & what gas you run.

Jan 12, 2009 | 02:41 PM

PerfDistIgnition

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Quote:

Originally Posted by bigcountry1009

How would I check total timing and the speed that it comes in and out. how would i adjust it?

We use distributor machines to do so.

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Jan 12, 2009 | 07:46 PM

bigcountry1009

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Tuned

Joined: Jul 2004

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From: Upstate SC

Ah ha, so basically, you really can't solidly figure out, or adjust initial timing without some specialized equipment. But still, how would you figure out the initial timing on a vehicle if you didn't know it to begin with. And, how do you adjust centrifugal timing on the distributor.

Also, how do you know if it comes in too fast or too slow. I know there are services out there to do it for me, but I have no money to put toward that.

Jan 14, 2009 | 11:33 AM

mark a.

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It should be in general around 10 deg. Adjusting cent. depends on the type of dizzy you have ? 2 factors for cent., total & rate come into play when adjusting one. If it comes in too fast among other things it will ping. In general you always want as much as the engine can handle, as fast as it can handle it.

Jan 14, 2009 | 07:31 PM

bigcountry1009

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Tuned

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From: Upstate SC

Well, my truck pings a bit when I get on real hard, so I'm thinking it's either the carb leaning the mix out or a slight timing issue. I've already gotten some advice on possible carb issues, so I'm running the timing issue down.