Timing help ! Sorry

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yeah

yeah

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Ok so it’s been like 2+ years since I worked on my car .I feel like I forgot everything . Car has a 360 , 30 over , small cam , aluminum heads , No vacuum advance distributor , nothing special . I’m confused about timing my car . This might sound so stupid to you all ! But here it goes


you set initial at 10-15 degrees before Tdc or after tdc ???

then when that is set you rev up your car to 2500-3000 and set the advanced timing . and you set it to ? ????? And then you end up with total timing .

Thanks Peter
 
Just set your total at 32-34 BTDC at 2500 to 3000 RPM and then see what you have at idle.
 
The relationship between total and initial advance is fixed inside the distributor and cannot easily be changed. You can change it but for the sake of this conversation it will be too confusing. The distributor will have a fixed amount of centrifugal advance. So if that number is 20 (just an example) and you set initial to 10 (again just a number) then you’ll have 30 total. If you set initial to 15 then you’ll have 35 total. See how that works? There are springs on the weights that control the rate of the advance. So if you are aiming for a total number of 34 and don’t know the amount of centrifugal, then run the rpm up in neutral while watching the timing mark with a light until it stops advancing, at that point twist the distributor until it reads 34. That will be your total timing. Your initial will just be whatever the total is minus the centrifugal, And you just live with whatever that number is. Hope that book helps.
 
Oh yea all timing for performance will be in BTDC. before top dead center.
 
Set your total, make sure it doesn't advance beyond 3,000 rpm, some do.

I'd set the total to 38 and see where the base timing falls. Depending on the base timing, you may want/need a recurve.

Other than detination, unless you take it to the strip or strap it to a dyno you won't know if it likes more or less timing. i've never had one that liked less than 36 on a dyno.
 
Wow thanks guys !!!! I guess it makes sense why my car is having a hard start , popping through the exhaust , and occasional backfire through the carb . I have not Checked yet cause at work but I think it might be set to 10-15 degrees after tdc . I don’t know how I managed to screw this one up hahah .
 
I can't believe it even starts and runs that far retarded.

That engine will be night and day when you get a decent timing curve set into it.
 
roccodart440 said:
I can't believe it even starts and runs that far retarded.

That engine will be night and day when you get a decent timing curve set into it.
Click to expand...
Hey Rocco can I quickly dm you ? And ask you a quick question cause I’m just super confused . My car don’t make sense haha
 
A little update on his situation....

1. The engine when put on TDC, also lines up on TDC on the HB.

2. After running some tests, if he advances the distributer, it shows ATDC on the balancer, but acts like he is advancing the base timing. This is why it ran horrible at 15BTC because it is actually 15ATDC when he does that.
 
roccodart440 said:
A little update on his situation....

1. The engine when put on TDC, also lines up on TDC on the HB.

2. After running some tests, if he advances the distributer, it shows ATDC on the balancer, but acts like he is advancing the base timing. This is why it ran horrible at 15BTC because it is actually 15ATDC when he does that.
Click to expand...

Are you sure he is turning the dist the correct way ? Clockwise or Counter Clockwise
 
If he advances the dist & the timing goes from BTDC to ATDC, then it would be the 8th wonder of the world.....
 
brian6pac said:
Are you sure he is turning the dist the correct way ? Clockwise or Counter Clockwise
Click to expand...

Counterclockwise adn when he does, it shows ATDC but acts like it's advancing..i.e. better idle, higher idle speed.
 
What are you using for a timing light? If it's a "dial up" light go find a plain ol' timing light, no advance dial.

What kind of ignition system? MSD EG is known for problems with timing lights

And then there's rotor phasing.......................................

It also "could be" that you have some issue IE broken plug, bad plug wire, poor wire terminal connection, CROSSED WIRES, and one of these issues might be causing CROSS FIRING that is also mis-triggering the lamp

WHAT I WOULD DO

Get back down to basics

Get a piston stop and confirm TDC is actually TDC

Pull ALL plugs and wires and inspect or replace the plugs. Also inspect plugs for firing condition, IE "read" them

"Ohm" the plug wires and inspect end terminals

If this is an MSD as mentioned above, get a non-delay timing light, and consider (if you have/ can) temporarily replacing MSD with Mopar or HEI module
 
I knew a guy who set his timing at 10 atdc or something like that i got there and set it BTDC and he said "wha? i thought BTDC meant below top dead center..." some people shouldn't work on cars..."
 
Good point...........is it actually set TO THE LEFT of TDC?
 
Did he put degree tape on the balancer ? Is it on backwards, the marks on the front cover only go to 10 degree ATDC
 
hey guys , thank so much for all the help . Sorry I’ve been dealing with family/work issues . Have not had a chance to write back .

the tape is on backwards . I didn’t do it , I bought a used motor and it was like that . I have to get new tape and change it .
 
yeah said:
hey guys , thank so much for all the help . Sorry I’ve been dealing with family/work issues . Have not had a chance to write back .

the tape is on backwards . I didn’t do it , I bought a used motor and it was like that . I have to get new tape and change it .
Click to expand...


That explains a lot!

He is using a dial back light.

He did put it physically on #1 TDC and the balancer confirms TDC.
 
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