I have read Larrys timing thread many times. Just one question to set initial timing to 12 degrees do just find tdc then rotate motor to read 12 on the timing mark then drop in distributer pointing to number one. Thanks. My machinst just put it at zero and didnt even unplug the vac advance when he timed it. It runs and idles good but doesnt seem to have much power and from a dead stop when i floor it it pops through the carb. It is a new hei dist from TA. Thanks It is a new rebuilt 455
It runs. Don't take the distributor out. Loosen the hold-down just enough to twist the distributor. Fire engine, warm it up, pull and plug the vacuum hose at curb idle. Connect timing light, adjust timing as needed. Reinstall vacuum hose. Couldn't be easier. Find another machinist.
Popping back thru the Carb is the first sign that your base timing ( with the vacuum advance unhooked) is atleast 8 degrees retarded from where it should be if he did just drop it in at zero and tighten it down! Good thing your machinist does not own a tune up shop otherwise he'd broke with a parking lot filled with poor running cars!
First, you may have read my timing thread many times, but it obviously did you no good at all if you can’t adjust your own timing. Popping back through the carburetor can also mean the engine is running lean under demand. Do you own a timing light? Adjusting ignition timing is among the simplest things a car owner can do.
I just didnt understand the 12 degrees initial to start with. The rest i understand. And i do have a dial back light. Was just asking how to set the dist to get the 12 degrees to start. Dont know sh_t about timing. So im trying to learn how. I can build a motor but i dont do timing or carb work
You are talking about static timing when installing the distributor. Once it is in and the engine is running, you can adjust it to anything you want. If the distributor is in right you will have a wide range of adjustment before the distributor hits the bypass hose or fan. The TA distributor has 20-22* of mechanical advance, so setting the initial to 12* should give you 32-34* of total advance WITHOUT vacuum advance. Plug the vacuum advance, adjust the idle as low as it will go. Then set the timing at low idle to 12*. Reset the idle speed. Then use your dial back to check total timing at higher RPM. Once you have confirmed your total timing, plug the vacuum advance in. Road test the car and check for part throttle ping. If any is noted, reduce the vacuum advance degrees. That’s it.
Larry, confused a bit on your remark above "If any is noted, reduce the vacuum advance degrees". My understanding is that the vacuum advance is a given per the canister once you hook back up the vacuum hose to the stock canister....therefore not adjustable. (unless you have an aftermarket adjustable canister). Are you saying if any ping then just reduce the initial advance back from 12 to say...10 or 8 ? Which in turn will reduce the overall total advance.
Read my Power Timing Thread. It's right there in the very first post, at the bottom, there are pictures. http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/power-timing-your-buick-v8.63475/ You can make a block off plate for any VA canister to limit the amount of advance it supplies. What you are doing is limiting the amount of link movement by blocking a portion of it's travel.
Thanks Larry, didn't see your orig power timing post. Think we should all read it to get tips and understand. appreciate your posts and willingness to help us tri-shield guys out.
