[tremec]

fellas,

I recently installed a new 383 in car,430 horse,(dont have exact cam specs offhand).520 lift I recall,msd pro billet ,18 degrees bushing installed,so I should be able to put somewhere around 18 on the initial!!!!,the concern is I cant time it with a light,(I've got it running awesome,just set below "ping"),if I put a light on it, its way off 30 degrees initial(using dial back)If I dont use dial back,i get 17 initial,dont know what total is(I only have a timing tab)thoughts,is my light pooched(its a new summit one by the way)

 

[Highway Star]

Are you trying to read the initial/static timing with the vacuum advance hooked up? What is your idle speed? Do you know that the mark on the damper is FOR SURE on the pointer when #1 is at TDC/compression?

 

[tremec]

sorry(should have put that in)yes VA is disco'd,And no Im not sure what the builder did in respect to the tab,he's reputable,so I'm assuming 0 is tdc

 

[tremec]

idle speed is 750

 

[Highway Star]

OK. Put the light on the pointer, and turn the dial until the damper mark lines up with the pointer. Now read the dial on the timing light. What does it say? Is this where you're reading 30°?

 

[tremec]

correct

 

[Highway Star]

Can you explain how you're getting it to show 17°?

 

[tremec]

If I dial the light back to 0,0 on balancer is at 17 on tab,thx

 

[Highway Star]

Is there a tape on the damper? I'm guessing here, that either the light is shot or the tape on your damper is off. I'd go by the mark on the damper instead of the tape. Use the dial to try to read your total timing...rev up the engine with your right hand and use the dial to bring the mark back to the pointer... Post what you find.

 

[tremec]

50

 

[Highway Star]

I'm betting that your initial is at 30...and your timing light is right...and your tape or whatever shows you 17° (with the dial at zero) is wrong. 30° initial timing is a bit much though.

 

[tremec]

thanks for your time,I'll do some more investigating,if it had 30 initial and 18 on dizzy I would think it would ping like mad,i'll let you know what I find,thx

 

[Highway Star]

I could be wrong, Ron. I wouldn't try to give bad advice intentionally...I hope you know that. I'm surprised that nobody else has posted in here with a different opinion.

Are you sure the vacuum advance is disconnected? Are you sure the pickup is on the #1 plug wire? Are you sure the timing pointer is in the right position? Can you post a pic of it?

 

[CNC BLOCKS N/E]

Dial back timing lights and MSD systems do not work together unless you are using a MSD timing light. MSD systems are multi spark.

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/173877/

http://www.dragracingonline.com/technical/vii_10-lights-1.html

 

[Highway Star]

:clonk::clonk: Well there you have it. Dialback light does not play nice with ignition box.

 

[tremec]

nothing but good advice thank-you,as promised an update,you and the light were right!!!,honestly I had no detectable audible ping,thats what had me questioning the light!!,but I had to go and set it by the light,assuming you were right,went for a ride,man those bfg's didnt stand a chance!!!!!! so right now I'm at 21 initial and 42 total,I know its a lot I may dial her back a bit,what u guys think,thanks again Jake

 

[tremec]

In this case I dont think it matters,I dont have a box,its a pro billet with external coil,brains are in dizzy!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Highway Star]

If it isn't pinging, and your starter can crank it, let it rip. I know for sure that's good advice.

 

[tremec]

ok Jake,I will,man I'd let you take her for a tannin' right about now,thanks a bunch!!!!!

 

[overdriv]

I have a old Sears Craftsman dial back timing light and a new MSD timing light. They both work exactly the same on my MSD boxes. 6AL, 6AL-2, Digital 7-7531.

So not all timing lights have problems with MSD boxes.

Also, if the light is dialed back to "0", and "0" on the damper is at 17* on the tab, then that is your initial.