I've looked at Summit and Jegs, and can't seem to find any timing guns. I know they sell them, but I'm unable to find any on their site. Can someone possibly link me to a decent adjustable timing gun? Within a reasonable price range?


Thanks,
Joe Phillips

Go to your local Sears store, Craftsman for around 70.00.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/search.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&verticalFullName=Automotive&keyword=timing+light&displayTarget=searchresults

Ditto on the Sears gun.

Joe,
Dont know if it applies to you, but keep in mind that MSD recommends NOT using dial back type lights on thier ignition systems. They can be inaccurate. I have seen one that read almost 20 degrees different than a non dial back light, and it was not a cheap one.
Otherwise the Sears ones are pretty good.

Thanks for the info Bob and Bill. I am using the GM HEI as of right now.Is it still not a good idea to use the dial back gun?

You'll be fine with an HEI. I'm using the Craftsman dialback light with my Mallory Hyfire ignition, so far so good.

What about one of those cool guns with the digital RPM, etc, readings on the back of the gun. Nice big red numbers, easy to read. Those things any good? I know they're expensive.

I wouldn't mind having one though, if they're good.

Thanks for the info Bob and Bill. I am using the GM HEI as of right now.Is it still not a good idea to use the dial back gun?

Ditto! Craftsman Dial-back is fine with an HEI. Best bang for the buck.

I need to buy one too.

Was borrowing a really nice digital light. Showed rpm and allowed you to dial in the total advance.

I would go with the digital light controls as opposed to the mechanical dial arrangement.

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=2998&prmenbr=361

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=3068&prmenbr=361

I will be purchasing a timing gun soon and want to see if the craftsman gun is still considered a good one to get.

I think this is the same as the Sears one.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUN%2DCP7519&N=700+115&autoview=sku

how do the dial back lights work? I always just used my non dial back snap on.

Fabio,
The nice thing about the dial back lights is that you do not need a degreed damper or timing tape to read full advance, like at 36 degrees. You just use the TDC mark and turn the dial on the back of the light until the line on the damper lines up with your tdc mark, then you read the timing off the dail on the light.

Only problem with them is that an MSD type ignition drives them crazy and they will not be accurate.

Fabio,
The nice thing about the dial back lights is that you do not need a degreed damper or timing tape to read full advance, like at 36 degrees. You just use the TDC mark and turn the dial on the back of the light until the line on the damper lines up with your tdc mark, then you read the timing off the dail on the light.

Only problem with them is that an MSD type ignition drives them crazy and they will not be accurate.


I have a Mallory Unilite Distributor and MSD 6A box. I set my timing with a snap on dial back light.
Are you guys saying that I may have set my timing incorrectly beacause of feedback from the MSD box or does this only apply to the MSD dist?

Only problem with them is that an MSD type ignition drives them crazy and they will not be accurate.
Yep. I found that out after I bought mine. One question though, can the dial back lights be used on an MSD ignition if you don't use the dial, or are they completely useless for MSD?

x6 or whatever it's at on the Craftsman from Sears.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00921023000P?vName=Tools&keyword=timing+light

Craftsman here too. I like the mechanical dial, very easy to turn the dial in "real time" while you are turning the dizzy and keep the line at the zero mark.

Been using a Snap On digital dial back light for over 15 years on my previous 6AL, my current Digital 6 plus and many other MSD ignitions without issue!:noway:

Been using a Snap On digital dial back light for over 15 years on my previous 6AL, my current Digital 6 plus and many other MSD ignitions without issue!:noway:
I'm not sure what the difference is between the Snap On and the Craftsman lights but I've heard a lot of people say the dial back feature is problematic with the MSD ignition. I have no experience with this since my current build is my first using a 6AL. I guess I'll just have to use my light and check it with a standard non-dial back type to be sure. If it works for me, great. If not, I guess I'll be buying a new light.

Back to the original question about finding one at Jegs... Here are 30 of em.;)
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/KeywordSearchCmd?D=timing+light&Dx=mode%2Bmatchall&searchTerm=timing+light&catalogId=10002&Nty=1&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchall&Ntt=timing+light&N=0&langId=-1&y=0&itemPerPage=90&x=0&storeId=10001&Ntk=all