Setting Timing?
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Setting Timing?
I'm working on a 1974 ford that came stock with a 360 V-8. About 5,000 miles ago the motor was replaced with a marshall 390 and we used all the auxilary parts like the intake, carb, distributor, etc...
It seems from reading the message boards that I am supposed to adjusting timing to about 12* at idle with distributor vaccum removed and to set the highest advance while reving the motor to about 36*.
My problem is that I set the idle timing and then after I set the advance timing the idle timing is retarded. Are there more than one way to adjust the timing? How do you get 12* at idle and 36* advanced? I'm just rotating the distributor to adjust the timing.
Thanks
It seems from reading the message boards that I am supposed to adjusting timing to about 12* at idle with distributor vaccum removed and to set the highest advance while reving the motor to about 36*.
My problem is that I set the idle timing and then after I set the advance timing the idle timing is retarded. Are there more than one way to adjust the timing? How do you get 12* at idle and 36* advanced? I'm just rotating the distributor to adjust the timing.
Thanks
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Joined: Aug 2001
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For a mild engine, you'll likely want 8-12 degrees initial timing.
Unless you recurve the distributor, you are probably seeing 42 degrees+ at 2500 RPM?
Just set the initial with vacuum disconnected, re-connect vacuum and set your idle (650-750 RPM in gear for auto, neutral for manual)
If you are looking for street/ strip performance you'll need to recurve the distributor with different weights and springs and look for total to be around 38-40. 36 is too low.
Josh
Unless you recurve the distributor, you are probably seeing 42 degrees+ at 2500 RPM?
Just set the initial with vacuum disconnected, re-connect vacuum and set your idle (650-750 RPM in gear for auto, neutral for manual)
If you are looking for street/ strip performance you'll need to recurve the distributor with different weights and springs and look for total to be around 38-40. 36 is too low.
Josh
