I just bought a new craftsman dial back timing light, and I know how to hook the leads up and everything, but will someone step by step take me through how to time my motor? I was recommended to put 14 degrees initial timing in it, and 34 total degrees in it. (with the vacuum source for the distributor plugged).

I have the Fastburn 385 crate motor.

Do I let it idle (800 RPM) and set the back of the dial on the gun to 14? Then turn the distributor until the strobe and the mark on the harmonic balancer line up? Then turn the back of the gun to 34 and rev the motor to 4000 RPM (GM HEI Distributor) and turn the distributor again until the strobe and the mark on the balancer line up again? Then hook the vacuum advance up?

Making sure I'm understanding this right.



Thanks much!
Joe Phillips

That will work if you only have 20* advance in the distributor, you can use the light to figure out how much advance you have also. I don't mess with initial advance anymore, just rev it and set total advance after its warmed up, of course. It sounds like to me that someone told you right, you might go to lighter springs to bring total advance in by 3000 rpms.

And read the "Zero" line on the balancer.

The physical position of the distributor in relation to the manifold is the initial timing. The mechanical advance rate is determined by springs/weights and the amount is determined by the length of the slot in the advance plate.

Like Bob West said, you can use your dial back light to set your full advance at 34 degrees. Set your light to 34, and read the zero mark. Turn the distributor body until the balancer mark aligns with the zero mark. After doing this, your timing at idle can be measured with your light. But, the actual timing setting will be 34 degrees minus whatever you distributor's mechanical advance is.