For those of you who degree cams or adjust cam gears on the dyno - How do you synchronize ignition timing with ECU if the intake cam gear is turned beyond the adjustment range of the distributor?

I degreed my cam centerlines to be -4* int/+4* exh. But with only -2/+2* of distributor adjustment I can't advance the distributor enough to sync the ECU at 16*. What’s the solution?

 

like to see the outcome ...answers to this

 

It seems crazy you couldn't reach 16 degrees because my distributor can definitely go past the 18 degree mark.

 

Maybe bc at 16* your distributor is not in the middle of the adjustment range.. Doubt you can hit 14*. But thats not really the point.

Put your intake cam to -4* and try to hit 16*.

 

You will just have to adjust for it in the ignition maps

 

Do you use a digital timing light to find how much the offset is so you can accurately compensate for it?

 

That would be the best way imo. Alot of tuners just give the motor what it wants, and don't really worrie about the actual numbers. I've seen some tuners make intake cam adjustments and not even reset the timing at the dizzy. More ways then one to skin a cat ya know?

 

Yeah I realize it’s all relative. If it makes peak power at 25* total timing (sync'd) or 28* knowing that its retarded 3*, that’s the same thing. Just wondering if anyone has a better solution.

 

Since you're just establishing a reference point, sync what you can get and adjust it from there in the ecu.

 

The only possible way of mechanically setting the dizzy would be to elongate the holes further to allow enough range. Although I'm sure that isn't the answer you are looking for.

 

What exactly are you trying to do??

 

Set the dizzy to 16* using the housing adjustment

 

Get what you can at the distributor and synch your base timing in your EMS software. If you can only get 10 degrees at your distributor, synch your EMS at 10, so everything else in the ignition maps will be correct. Gotta have the same reference point.

 

Ok thats all I needed to hear. I can probably get 14* on crank pulley with the distributor at full advance. I can set the ignition sync on the EMS to 14* and it should be good. I get it now. Thanks

 

machine/slot the distributor slots larger/longer....

 

Sync timing is exactly that. If you can get to a certain number on the crank pulley then set that number in the tuning software. After that the timing maps will work as they should. Ie 14 crank set 14 in the sync field. Mine was just able to get 16 but i think this time around with head and block being touched ill have to set mine to 12-14 in the sync

 

That may work for muck but what are your going to do if your on crome

neptune and hondata are practically non existent in these parts

 

Yeah it doesn't work that way. Changing the value in SET TIMING from 16 to 14* actually retards the ignition output of the ECU.

 

Did you "lock ignition timing" in Neptune? (the little lock icon in the upper right tool bar)

 

Going off memory here...

Lock ignition in Neptune (padlock icon)
Set your distributor to as close as you can to 16 degrees.
See what your ignition value is in Neptune...
Put this value as your base timing in Preferences/Main...

This should sync up your ecu to your distributor...
Im pretty sure this was how I did it setting up mine. Hit up HRTuning on here or his site. He responds rather quickly.

 

I know how to lock the ignition! Thats not the issue.

 

Just lock it at 14deg if that's the actual number you can get out of the dist.

Then do the rest of your timing maps from there.

Stock timing is 16 +/- 2deg, so you're still good.

 

Sigh, let me try to explain this again.

Intake cam set to -4* (cam centerline)
In Smanager, Set Timing at 16*
Advance the distributor to full, crank reads 14* with timing light.

Plan B. Go back to Set Timing, decrease value to 14*
(THIS RETARDS THE ECU TIMING OUTPUT BY -2)
Advance distributor to full, now crank reads 12* with timing light.

See the pattern? Changing the Set Timing value changes the actual ignition output.
If I can’t sync at 16 I won’t be able to sync at any number because it’s moving the target.

Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself.
Or look at the IGN display it will show the actual ignition output as you adjust the Set timing value.
It’s a flawed system.

 

Just set the timing as close as you can locked at 16 adjust maps from there.

 

There is a Gear Adjustment for ignition under TPS Ign in the parameters.
I can use that as an overall ignition trim. Ill simply put +2* for every gear.