Strange thing happened to me (at least I think it’s strange), and just looking for some in-site into what might have been going on.

Trying to adjust engine timing on my bro-in-law’s Camaro. 350, cc268 cam, etc. Last time I started it for him, I told him to shut it down, and we needed gauges before running it again … suspicions were right, 25psi max oil pressure. Engine is shot, so we didn’t horse much more. But, trying to set the timing, it was acting weird.

All of my timing readings were extremely high. I checked to make sure I was on #1 cylinder. Anything reading in the 12-20deg range, wouldn’t run at all. I was running in the 50+ range (by my timing gun) before it would idle. Now I didn’t have a tach, but I would guess we were still in the 1200-1500rpm. Not much I could do about the mech advance at that speed, but the vacuum advance was definitely unhooked. I’ve never run into this before … any idea’s? My dad suggested maybe the timing marks on the balancer had spun?

Then, I wanted to leave him where the motor would at least idle (so he could move the car around). I absolutely could not find a setting that would start the motor! Brand new (AutoZone) starter was spinning really slow, barely. I was having to wiggle the dizzy (while he cranked) between retarded/advanced. Absolutely no where I could leave it, and start. Now after we’re done, I might have found the cause … though don’t know. Afterward, he tells me the motor has 11:1 pistons! I’m wondering if that is just too much for an AutoZone starter?

Oh well, mostly just trying to get ideas on why I couldn’t set my base timing correctly.
Thanks, Neal

Just an FYI here when setting base timing.

1) You cant set base timing with idle high eps at 1200-1500 rpm like you were. Thats becasue the mech adv in the dist will be partiall activated upsetting the base timing adj.

With that said you must idle the motor down to approx 600-650 rpm to ensure mech avd inst partially activated when setting base timing.

2) The vac adv must be unhooked and plugged to when setting base timing.

3) with that perf cam in a 350 your base timing should be at leas 18 deg.

4) with 18 deg base timing your looking for 36-30 total 2 2800-3k rpm with vac adv still unhooked/plugged. If total is over 38deg at 3k rpm or above that like at 4k rpm with 18 base timing that your cam need then you neeed to send the dist out to recure the mech adv for 18 deg max in by 2800-3k rpm .Then 18 base + 18 deg mech = 36 deg total in by 2800-3k rpm.

5) Re-attach the vac adv and also re-adj tje idle mixture and speed post timing adj.

Now if this doesnt seem to get the timing corrected then maybe there is an issue with the ballencer like you were wondering or the cam timing chain may be off a tooth. But i have been working on these sbc/bbc motor for over 37yrs and only once did i run into a slipped ballancer so its not that common a thing to happen,at least in my experience. Whats seems more common is the wrong timing cover/timing tab/ vs ballencer for application /yr motor its on that can really get you screwed up when it comes the timing marks so keep that in mind that it may be that kind of issue if the ballencer seems ok & not to have slipped. A quick way to check to see if things are ok with ballencer vs timing marks is to get #1 cly to tdc with #1 piston at top of it's stroke to see if timing mark on ballencer lines up with tdc on timing tab or at least darn close like within a deg or less to see what going on.

BTW,if that motor with 25lbs oil pressure is not knocking or buring much oil and runs decent after you get timing figured out it may last quite a while even with a little lower oil pressure so dont right it off so quickly. Thats esp true if your running a light oil like 10-30 in it,if thats the case try some 20-50 valvoline VR1 racing oil(not std pass car 20-50 with almost no zddp in it) that has some zddp in it for the flat tappet cam your running. The thicker oil should inc the hot oil psi by at least 5lbs and maybe a little more if your lucky.

On the starter,is it a hi trq gm starter of std duty for low perf/low comp motor,if so thats an issue right there. summit seel brand new hi trq gm starters for approx $100. Also,is you battery fresh or charged fully with approx 700 or more CCA,if not thats an issue too. also ensure all the cnnetctions like body to frame and engine to firwal srtas connections are all clean and tight. That so includes checking to ensure connections are clean & tight at at the battery and starter and also the main feed thru the yes even the horn relay of all places too.

I have run bbc's with 10:5 comp and 20 deg base timing with farily mild perf cams creating higher cyl pressures along with fresh stock gm hi trq starters and they still started ok when hot . But i also ensured they had a starter heat shiled/fresh-fully charged 700+ CCa battery/alt with at least 55-61 amps(nott he lower output 37-42 amp units),and that all the above mentioned connections were clean and tight too which is very important. And again that's along with a known good/fresh hi trq starter like a new summit unit which is equally important. Return the crappy rblt and get a new summit hi trq starter and get the other things i suggested here squared away and it should start much better.

scott

Oh yeah, I agree with you completely on how to set base timing (at idle). The problem I was running into, was even considering mech advance … I was still showing up 55-60deg to make the thing idle (1200rpm + probably, no tach). Base + mechanical shouldn’t be more than 25-30deg at that point. I’m just trying to learn something … on possibilities how it did this, or what I could be doing wrong?

I had heard of a balancer spinning, but didn’t think of it (or look) while I was there. Pretty much decided the motor needed more help than fine tuning the timing.

The oil pressure … I agree, 25psi would be fine for cruising, etc. He wants a dead reliable ride though, and I told him I didn’t think it could be with low oil pressure. I’m leaving that up to him.

Oh well, any thoughts … I really can’t think of what could cause the timing thing?
Neal