Is this safe and a good idea???
advanced timing
Is there a way I can do it precisely with a timing light?

 

yeah its safe i do this in my car and its fine no knocking and runs better

 

every motor is different, so timing will effect every motor differently.

Also remember that timing changes in the vtec curve to fairly extreme levels as it is, so starting it off higher will make it go that much extreme in vtec.

With that being said, my timing is on the plus side of 16BTDC but not quite 18.

 

How much does a timing light cost, and is it easy to do yourself. I know I can do it like that website, but I feel funny just guessing and moving things around using a sharpie line for reference, or is it really that safe.

 

use a timing light, they have them at sears and pepboys for about 30 bux.

 

Thanks, and what do you suggest for a 00' Si??? (timing #)

 

should be 16 degrees BTDC. It's usually safe to bump timing no more than 2 degrees. Make sure there's no "pinging" under throttle though, or back off the timing.

 

So around 18 BTDC is okay, the site said 19-20, but I don't mind being conservative. will I actually notice a difference with advanced timing??

 

maybe, but since you'll be waiting for it, you might not notice. It just goes along with everything else. Too far advanced timing can hurt performance-remember that.Try 2 degrees, butt dyno it, go 2 more, and see,you can always retard back 2 at this point.I personally don't like going anymore than about 3 degrees, without going on a dyno. Run 92 octane though.

 

When I first put my motor together and in the car, I set the timing to 14. Just to be on the safe side during break in. After I filled up the tank 5 times to only go 1070 miles (99% of which was under 5k rpm's)....

I decided it was time to advance my timing. Since setting it to 16-18 my gas mileage as gone up about 50-60 miles per tank. I noticed a slight improvement in power and throtlle response.

If you are going to set your timing high, run 91 octane to be safe.

 

Yes, advanced timing+low octane= trouble

 

Hey I really appreciate the help guys for you
I run 93 octane only anyways, so that shouldn't be a problem (The b16 requires premium anyways, or atleast my 00' si owners manual says so) I am going to try 2 at a time and see what happens. This make me wonder if there is anything else I can adjust on the car to help increase it's efficiency/power.