'82 Timing?

[Zektor]

Hi All,
I've been playing with the timing on my 1982. It's got various performance mods to make it a bit quicker. My G/Tech estimates 226Bhp at the moment. The roller rockers and K&N Filters are on the way as we speak!!!

Question is, what do people feel is the best timing for the 1982?

For months I've been driving around with the stock 6 degrees. At this setting it give me a sh*tload of torque from the moment you hit the throttle... off the line performance is staggering (a bonus from the TBI setup), but it quickly dies off throughout the rest of the rev range (a not-so-bonus from the TBI setup!).

This weekend, I adjusted my timing to 8 degrees BTDC. Even just a 2 degree difference had a notable effect on the car. It still hammers off the line pretty quickly, but I've noticed it's not quite as strong off the line as it was at 6 degree's. But, further up the rev range the car seems a whole lot stronger. I haven't tested to prove it, but it seems to fly through the revs much quicker than it did before. Also, there is no pinking from the engine. It seems more "driveable" than it was before.

What have other people set their '82's to? Is it worth me trying 10 degrees BTDC or am I going to hit a point where it's not going to go any quicker no matter what I do. Plus, if I keep advancing the ignition is my off the line response going to suffer more and more?

I need detailed answers on this one, because I am trying to set it for keeps!!!!

Cheers
Dazza

 

[Twin_Turbo]

I have run mine at 6, 8 & 10. I decided to set it at 8 but the difference wasn't really significant.

If you set the base timing, do you disconnect the EST (orange lead, HEI bypass), if not you should.

Marck

 

[cruzer99]

Remember to hook it back up when you are done with the timing.......

 

[topless82vette]

Ive heard using a est module from a 5.0 liter h.o. F-body would allow the stock ecm to advance timing to 36 degrees verses the cfi's max of 32 degrees ... twinnie you ever hear of such a thing

 

[Twin_Turbo]

no, that's completely new to me. Never heard of that before.

 

[Vette/Berlina-coupe]

FYI: -out of fustration like you, just for the hell of it, I blocked the vac.line to the distributor, locked the centrifugal-advance weights in closed-position; -then advanced the distributor-body to a point where engine seemed to run best overall, --and actually got "superior performance"; but engines vary according to cam characteristics, -so this is no criteria (but can't hurt to try!). Best thing really, is to take your distributor to a prof./Ignition-shoppe, have a skilled expert check it at various speeds (idle up to 6,000-rpm) on their specialized Sun/test-stand, --and necessarily armed with knowledge of your particular engine's cam-design, -if he knows what he is doing, can tweek centri.-weights and vac.-advance unit accordingly (the trick is in finding such a rare skilled-technician, --they all SAY they are; --like balancing tires, very FEW actually know how to do a perfect job of it necessarily ON the car!)...
:crazy

 

[Stallion]

I'm reading through this thread and I'm not sure I understand what you mean by the "timing" of the Vette. Are you talking about how far up and the bottom the pistons go in the engine? Is this what you are referring to by the "timing"? Thanks!