My buddy Shaun stopped by today, you all know him as BLT4FN. His car has been hard on starter motors lately so we checked it out. The mechanical advance in his HEI was stuck in the full advanced position so we took it apart and cleaned it up. We put it all back together and fired it up to set the timing. Now here's where it gets wierd...We set the timing at 36 degrees at 3000 rpm, no problem. Checked the base timing and it's still 36 degrees. No matter where we set the timing, it stays right there no matter where the rpm goes. The timing should increase with RPM but it doesn't. We changed the distributor to see if that eliminates the problem, problem still present. He has a GM HEI with the MSD cap that has the external MSD coil and a 6al box. The vacuum advance works but doesn't affect the rpm. Could the MSD box be the problem?

Hmm...thats a weird one?? I can't see the MSD box being the culprit, its just for firing the spark. Did you check the timing without the vacuum advance connected?? Maybe there is a problem with both HEI's?? Where is the vac advance connected to?? It should be connected to the timed port on the carb.

Brian

We got it figured out, thanks for the help.

What was the problem??? :confused:

Sorry T-Man I get online right before I go to work, take a peek a time or two while at work, then came home, loaded up and went racing. We ran the 6.90 class tonight. Time runs1.54,1.57,1.79--- 6.86,6.92,7.19 spinning, first round I go 1.54- 6.86 again, I'm out, all those passes deep staging. I came back around and make a bracket mode pass, shallow staged, 1.432-6.73-8.85@114 1000ft. Were the springs too weak allowing the advance weights stay advanced? I'm sure it wasnt the MSD causing the problems.

You are correct, it had nothing to do with the MSD box. Shaun had spliced the vacuum advance hose into a vacuum gauge, that didn't help. The distributer we replaced his with as far as I know is stock but no idea what it came out of. My neighbor gave it to me when he was cleaning out his garage. The springs that we put in the dist are light but a little stronger than what he had in the dist before we started working on it. At least it retards for easier cold starting. I suggested he send a distributor to Von and get it dialed in before he cooks another starter motor.

Thanks Tom for all the help on the weekend.:thumbsup:

It took us an hour to get back to the hotel Saturday night after the cruise. All I did was put on the electrical fan and never over heated. Used about a half tank of fuel but....

Got to the boarder Sunday, and shut the car off so as to hear the customs lady and wouldn't you believe it it wouldn't start. What had happened when I change the starter at Toms place I had put the wire on and it had been rubbing on the header. To make a long story short dropped starter (again :rolleyes: ) moved wire, and had to replace solenoid as it had burnt it out.

Again thanks for all your help Tom.