Tell me if this sounds right. This is what he told me to do.

Car is 95 civic ex with JDM B18c motor using 91 octane at 5500 feet elevation. ITR cams and Skunk2 manifold. Still using JDM B18c computer.

1.) Let car warm up to operating temp

2.) Jump the 2 prong jumper under glove box

3.) Adjust timing light to 36 degrees advance on the dial


4.) Rev motor to 4,500 rpm and then adjust distributor till the TDC mark (single mark on crank pully) lines up with reference pointer on timing belt cover.

All the info I Find here says 16 degrees is the reference point. Am I timing it wrong? Is the JDM computer used to a much higher octane and wants less advance with my crappy 91 premium fuel here in New Mexico???


Motor does not seem as happy as I think it should be. Maybe I'm just used to it now. What am I doing wrong here people?????

 

That logic would work fine if the ecu wasn't applying multiple correction factors to the ignition output signal.

 

Funny thing, I timed it exatly how the helms said to, and my distributor didn't move at all. The local guru is right agian. Don't get me worng, I'll time my motor the helms way from now on, but he was still right.

 

He 'might' be right for that particular motor but the safe bet would be to just follow the Helms manual for whatever motor you're actually trying to set the timing on.