Base Timing Questions
Really it's the same process for locked timing as it is for unlocked timing. If want to know your timing curve you would check timing at each rpm interval just like you would with unlocked timing.
Yes. That’s how it SHOULD be done if you are using locked out timing.
But how many guys actually do it.
I was showing a guy (I was on a video call with my buddy’s kid) showing him what he was dealing with.
At 7200 he tapped out. He is shifting at 8k but he couldn’t tolerate zinging the engine that high for timing it.
And most guys won’t do it.
So they have no clue what their exact timing is.
If you really want to tip over your customers try this.
Pick an rpm that you think is pretty close to peak torque (just an example but you can do it at any load/rpm) and then park the engine there and by hand turn the distributor while watching torque and vacuum.
Once you find what the engine wants at that rpm/load you raise the rpm and do it again.
I only did that for one engine. Then I made a little handle to clamp to the distributor so I didn’t burn the hell out of my hands.
Of course, the handle got hot too but not as bad.
Now I have a 3 stage retard wired into the dyno ignition and I can sit at the desks and change the timing with a turn of the knob.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than burning my hands doing it.