timing woes
If I time it so it starts easy it has no power
That’s because you don’t have the correct curve in it. I’ve posted this so much I’m sick of it but here goes.
99% of these engines want a curve. I doubt you are in the 1% group so don’t lock it out.
That’s a quick way to kill power around peak torque and it’s probably killing max hp too depending shift rpm.
That is because around peak torque, which is your highest volumetric efficiency these engines want much less timing there.
Let’s say you have it locked out at 35. Rule one is at let’s say 6k you won’t have 35 degrees. Why is that?
Because every ignition system out there except points WILL retard the timing. I guarantee it. That is caused by the slew rate of the internal switches and such.
Just like it takes time to open and close the points, it takes time to turn off and on the switches. That’s skew rate.
They all do it. What rpm and how much is only known by checking the entire ignition as it runs in the car on a distributor test bench. Once you do that you can correct the curve to account for the retard.
Or you can set your total timing at your max rpm. Then you’d know the exact timing at that rpm. What your timing is at lower rpm is anyone’s guess. But you can bet it’s a curve because of the retarding.
One of my favorite (I HATE DOING IT) things to do is get the curve right with an over cammed, low compression.
That’s because it will want as ASSLOAD of initial timing, almost nothing more at peak timing and then it wants a creeping curve until max rpm. Getting that is a *****.