Engine Timing

[TLeBlanc]

OK, I have finally managed to start tinkering with the car. Changed the oil this morning, did some detailing etc, etc.

Can someone tell me what the engine timing should be set at. This car came with a Scoggins Dickey 350 crate engine. A performance cam was also installed, but I do not know the specs on it. It also has a Demon Carb, with a Mallory Hyfire VI-A Ignition system. When I checked it today, it was probably at 16 deg. +/-.

 

[spearsjag]

thats probably 16 degressbtdc, w/o the cam it should be 8 degrees btdc. but with the cam don't worry about where it suppose to be. just find a spot where the car runs the best (no spark knock) and starts the best.

 

[magicv8]

Depends on whether you are using a vacuum advance. I do for the street, but I have an Accel adjustable advance - that allows me to set for start up and power.

If you have the proper 22 to 28 degrees of total idle timing (initial plus full vacuum advance) - toward the lower end on medium performance engines and the high end for SHP engines - and a proper idle mixture, the manifolds should only read about 500 F at idle.

Check TOTAL timing as follows:
Disconnect vac advance. Using an adjustable timing light, set the timing light advance to 36 degrees. Start the engine. Give it a few "blips" of the throttle, getting the rpm up around 3500-4000 for a second or two. At the high rpm, the timing mark should line up with "0" with the timing light set at 36.
Without adjustable timing lights, mark the balancer at one tenth of the circumference from zero.