help!!! i have a 406 sbc,11:1 comp, 292 501" cam, sportsman 2 heads, weiand xcellerator & holley 700 double pumper, msd pro billet dist and 6al box,4000 stall converter, and 4.11 gears. my problem is when i try to set the timing. i used the 25* bushing and the heavy springs. it idles nice but lurches in gear. i have 18 degrees initial and 18 mechanical at 5000. when i changed to the lighter blue springs, my initial dropped to 13 degrees and stalls in gear. ????? don't know how to explain. can anyone help me set this up correct? i had better luck with my stock distributor. best time has been 12.59@104 1.67 60'

sounds like the converter? not timing. just a thought. built a 327 once with a fairly large cam and stock converter,did the same thing.JIMK

I dunno why your initial dropped but I will say you have your mechanical coming waaaaay late. Should get this all in by 3000 rpms. By changing to the lighter spring I would have expected an increase in initial depending on what your idle was set to, being that you may have started to pull part of mechanical advance into the mix at idle.

Have you tried just bumping up your initial back up to 18 and then re-checking the curve? And what type of timing gun are you using with the 6al box? Vac Advance plugged?

I have my MSD set up as follows - 12 deg, initial, same bushing you are using and I believe on light and one heavy spring. Got 37 degrees. total all in by 2800, not including 10 deg. vacuum advance on top of that. If that gives you a base to work with.

Check for vac leaks, or possible the secondaries dripping fuel at idle, float level also. Just dealt with a similar issue this weekend and noticed dripping fuel, adjusted floats, off and running (Actually a buddies car and he noticed it and fixed) but regardless, that was the problem.

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'70 SS 396
4spd, 4.10's and a smile
TC# 1341
Beaux
The SS (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/btmyss.JPG)
My sloppy engine bay (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/btmill.JPG)

Life is a gateway drug that leads to Chevelle addiction.

THE DISTRIBUTOR I HAVE IS THE ONE WITH NO VAC ADVANCE. I DON'T STREET DRIVE IT, JUST TRAILERED TO THE TRACK. I PLAYED WITH THE TIMING SOME MORE AND I THINK THE TIMING LIGHT DOES NOT WORK WELL WITH MSD. I HAVE A DIAL BACK ONE. I ADJUSTED THE TIMING AGAIN AND THE LIGHT READ 26* ADVANCE INITIAL. IT DID NOT PING OR DIESEL, BUT THAT'S WAY TOO MUCH. BUT IT RAN IT'S BEST THERE. I TRIED THE LIGHTEST SPRINGS WITH 18* ADVANCE AND IT STALLS AS SOON AS IT GOES INTO GEAR. WITH THE STOCK DIS., I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH TIMING. I USED A CHEAP ADVANCE KIT WITH THE HEAVIEST SPRINGS. IS THERE A PROPER PHASING I'M DOING WRONG? THE CARB IS OK, CHECKED FOR VAC LEAKS AND FUEL LEAKS. NO PROBLEMS THERE. IT HAS ABOUT 11" OF VAC @1200 RPM IN PARK. THE ENGINE PULLS STRONG, BUT I WANT TO CURE THE STALLING AND SURGING IN GEAR. THANKS AGAIN http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

OK the dialback, cant use say, a sears dial back light with the MSD ignition boxes. You will get false readings. This is right from MSD's sight -

Many lights have trouble reading the MSD's capacitive discharge multiple sparks. Dial back timing lights are not recommended. Try another non-adjustable light and check the timing again.


Also, just an FYI, but you should realize that typing in all caps indicates you are yelling.
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'70 SS 396
4spd, 4.10's and a smile
TC# 1341
Beaux
The SS (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/btmyss.JPG)
My sloppy engine bay (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/btmill.JPG)

Life is a gateway drug that leads to Chevelle addiction.

[This message has been edited by Midnight Marauder (edited 04-26-2002).]

Sorry about the caps. I wrote the message from work quickly and didn't realize the caps. I went to the track on Wed. and ran the car again. The car ran better with the monster advance, but still hinted surging in gear. It pulled hard all gears, but it seems to run out of steam from half track to the end. I will take your advice and use a different light. Do you suggest upping the jet size 2 or 3 #'s? I'm running 72 pri. and 76 sec. With the timing, do you suggest locking out the distributor? I've read a book that says this is ok with a long duration cam. Hopefully, the engine will work out the bugs. Thanks everyone for the help http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

So when you use an MSD box the capacitive discharge can give a false reading due to the capacitive discharge? Is this true of newer timing lights with a dail back?



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1966 Chevelle Malibu Sandalwood, Gold color
454, .30 over, dual quads
700 R4 transmission
12" disks up front and hope to have disks in the rear soon.