Setting base timing?
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Setting base timing?
Kind of a noob question.
How do you adjust the timing once a timing light is hooked up? Does the timing light adjust the timing or do you turn the distributor to adjust timing or is there another way?
Anyone know where I can find some good tech articles on distributor/ignition timing?
How do you adjust the timing once a timing light is hooked up? Does the timing light adjust the timing or do you turn the distributor to adjust timing or is there another way?
Anyone know where I can find some good tech articles on distributor/ignition timing?
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From: Where the Hell is 29 Palms
Re: Setting base timing? (miksew)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by miksew »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Kind of a noob question.
How do you adjust the timing once a timing light is hooked up? Does the timing light adjust the timing or do you turn the distributor to adjust timing or is there another way?
Anyone know where I can find some good tech articles on distributor/ignition timing?</TD></TR></TABLE>
pretty simple:
with the engine running and in diagnotic mode, point the gun at the timing marks, it should be in the middle of the three tick marks on the crankshaft pulley. now adjust the timing gun to 16 degrees and it should make the pulley tick mark move up to a tick mark all by itself and usually colored red to be exact.
That is BTDC 16 if it is close but not exact on the red tick mark on the crankshaft when you point the gun at the pulley. That's when you rotate the distributor foward (towards firewall) or back to advance the timing or retard it. This is how you fine tune the timing to factory specs.
How do you adjust the timing once a timing light is hooked up? Does the timing light adjust the timing or do you turn the distributor to adjust timing or is there another way?
Anyone know where I can find some good tech articles on distributor/ignition timing?</TD></TR></TABLE>
pretty simple:
with the engine running and in diagnotic mode, point the gun at the timing marks, it should be in the middle of the three tick marks on the crankshaft pulley. now adjust the timing gun to 16 degrees and it should make the pulley tick mark move up to a tick mark all by itself and usually colored red to be exact.
That is BTDC 16 if it is close but not exact on the red tick mark on the crankshaft when you point the gun at the pulley. That's when you rotate the distributor foward (towards firewall) or back to advance the timing or retard it. This is how you fine tune the timing to factory specs.
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From: Mustafar
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From: Where the Hell is 29 Palms
Re: Setting base timing? (downest)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by downest »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What's the most you can retard the timing (dizzy all the way forward)?</TD></TR></TABLE>
factory specs is +/- 2 at BTDC 16. anything more or less tend to make the car run rough.
factory specs is +/- 2 at BTDC 16. anything more or less tend to make the car run rough.
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Re: Setting base timing? (Lord Helmet)
thanks i got it figured out
basically a timing light allows you to view the timing and not adjust it
the distributor allows fine tuning of the timing
i still have no idea what an "advance" timing light does though
basically a timing light allows you to view the timing and not adjust it
the distributor allows fine tuning of the timing
i still have no idea what an "advance" timing light does though
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From: San Ramon/Pleasanton, CA, USA
Re: Setting base timing? (miksew)
Timing light 101...
Hook it up and leave the advance at 0deg. This let's you view your timing advance.
Your spec is 16btdc so now move the advance on the timing light toward 16 deg.
Once you get to 16 btdc you will now be viewing your tdc mark on the pulley. That is because your timing light has advanced the timing lights timing by 16 degrees (Yes, the light)
Hook it up and leave the advance at 0deg. This let's you view your timing advance.
Your spec is 16btdc so now move the advance on the timing light toward 16 deg.
Once you get to 16 btdc you will now be viewing your tdc mark on the pulley. That is because your timing light has advanced the timing lights timing by 16 degrees (Yes, the light)
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Re: Setting base timing? (djstain)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by miksew »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thanks i got it figured out
basically a timing light allows you to view the timing and not adjust it
the distributor allows fine tuning of the timing</TD></TR></TABLE>Correct.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by miksew »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i still have no idea what an "advance" timing light does though</TD></TR></TABLE>You can use that to set additional advance, or use it on an aftermarket pulley which may only have a mark at TDC.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by djstain »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wats does btc mean?</TD></TR></TABLE>Before top (dead) center. The term 'dead' is sorta going out of fashion these days.
basically a timing light allows you to view the timing and not adjust it
the distributor allows fine tuning of the timing</TD></TR></TABLE>Correct.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by miksew »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i still have no idea what an "advance" timing light does though</TD></TR></TABLE>You can use that to set additional advance, or use it on an aftermarket pulley which may only have a mark at TDC.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by djstain »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wats does btc mean?</TD></TR></TABLE>Before top (dead) center. The term 'dead' is sorta going out of fashion these days.
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