Hey Guy's/Gal's
Hope this is the right forum for this.

Can someone explain to me how I go about setting my total timing http://www.chevelles.com/forum/redface.gif I've just set my timing to 12 degree's and in another theard I posted they had told me to set my total timing to around 37-39 degree's. I have never done this, so if you could give me a detail example it would help.

Thanks in advance Tom


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Tom
Southern,IL
67SS Yellow right now:(
Member #409

Tom, total timing= initial + centrifugal + vacuum. to check this you need either a timing tape on the balancer, or a timing light that has a dial that can be adjusted to return the mark to '0' degrees with the engine running above 2500 rpm. Another option is to remove the distributor and have it checked on a distributor machine, then add it to the initial timing (although it's are getting harder to find a shop that has a working one)

Almost correct...

Total timing is initial plus centrifugal.

Depending on your cylinder heads, compression, quality of gasoline, and other factors, you will want anywhere from 32 to 42 degrees of advance. Good (modern) cylinder heads need less advance to make power.
Ignore the vacuum advance, when you're WFO you have no vacuum anyway. Initial plus centrifugal plus vacuum will boot you up around 55 degrees, and that's normal. The only time you'll see that much advance is when you're at high vacuum, high rpm. Like when you time the engine in the driveway. It doesn't happen in real life.

Think of vacuum advance as supplemental. Added to the idle, with full manifold vacuum, it will help the engine to pull against a torque converter more smoothly. Added to the top of the total timing, on ported vacuum, it can help with emissions reduction,.

[This message has been edited by IgnitionMan (edited 04-16-2000).]

Tom,
Check out this link from the archive, gives a pretty good explanation about Total Timing. (http://www.chevelles.com/archive/files/tottime.html)

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Better Late than Never Fred
Team Chevelle #400
If everything seems to be coming your way, you're probably in the wrong lane.
1970 Chevelle Malibu (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Riffers70_1)

Thanks Guy's for the info.

Riffers70
Nice archive I've printed it and will read it again to make sure I understand it all.

From what I get I can set total timing with useing the "advance degree knob" on my timing light (sear). All I've got to do is set it too what ever degree I want for total timing and bring the RPM's up to around 3000-3500 and my mark should be at "0" TDC.

Thanks again Tom


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Tom
Southern,IL
67SS Yellow right now:(
Member #409

Madmax, I have a Sears Dial-back timing light, and it has a 4 degree hesitiation in it. You might want to check yours to make sure it doesn't have the hesitation.

Mine happens when I move the dial from the off position into the dialback. Nothing happens for about 4 degrees from off, then it starts to move the light from off to showing the higher numbers.

I checked mine against engines with timing tapes and degreed balancers, and it is definately not right. Sears says "tough luck".

Madmax,
You can see your total timing by bringing the engine up to 3200-3500. Set the knob at 32 and point it at the tab. If the mark on the balancer is not lined up with TDC, turn the knob until it is. Lower moves the mark to the right, higher moves the mark to the left. When the mark is lined up with TDC, look at the knob and it will show you what your total timing is.
There are a couple of ways to change your total timing. You can adjust your initial, by moving the distributor. You can adjust your vacuum, by using and adjustable vacuum cannister. You can adjust your mechanical by changing weights and/or springs. From what I've seen and been told, only allow a distributor guy mess with the mechanics of the distributor. But that's really your call, if you feel confident and would like to learn how it works go for it. Just remember how it was set up to begin with so that you have a baseline in case things go haywire.

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Better Late than Never Fred
Team Chevelle #400
If everything seems to be coming your way, you're probably in the wrong lane.
1970 Chevelle Malibu (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Riffers70_1)

[This message has been edited by Riffers70 (edited 04-18-2000).]

I-man
Thanks for the heads up on the timing light, I just bought it so I hope it's not off!! I'll check. Also still trying to get the funds together and the info. you need and I'll be shipping my points dist. off to you.

Riffer
Thanks for the info. Need to go and get my friend vacuum gauge to see what kinda vacuum I'm getting?

Last question: On intial timing I removed & pluged the vacuum line from the distributor to check my timing, do I do the same when checking total timing.

Thanks Tom

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Tom
Southern,IL
67SS Yellow right now:(
Member #409

There should little if any vaccuum at WOT to operate a vacuum advance. Set total with it disconnected.

Madmax, leave the vacuum hose off the cannister for both initial timing setting and total timing measurements.

Let me know when you're ready, it's always your decision on my products, no pressure.

IgnitionMan, I gather from the above posts you setup distributors. Wondering if you might send me an email or know of anybody in the Allentown/Reading area that does distributors. Tried to email you but keep getting it returned. Thanks


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Doug
1971 LS5 Chevelle SS

Same here, IgnitionMan. I have a small body point style distributor that I'd like converted. If you could e-mail me I'd appreciate it.
Jimm

Sorry about that I-man and Riffer http://www.chevelles.com/forum/redface.gif
Need to think before I act!!

Also thanks for all the help I had to get a tach to check total timing (RPM) and with the Easter weekend will be next week before I'm done.

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Tom
Southern,IL
67SS Yellow right now http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif
Member #409

[This message has been edited by Madmax (edited 04-21-2000).]

Madmax,
I-man doesn't have his email in his profile probably for a reason. Some guys are very protective of their email addresses. Especially with some programs out there that can crawl through a website picking out email addresses and use them for spamming. I-man is a regular here and is always scanning the posts, he will get in touch with the persons I'm sure.
Don't take this harshly, more of an FYI thing. If you'd like to help the guys, and you know I-man's email, then email I-Man directly and tell him of their interest.
Thanks!

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Better Late than Never Fred
Team Chevelle #400
Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky, and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling?
1970 Chevelle Malibu (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Riffers70_1)