Timing Adjustments (Revisited)

Q: Timing Adjustments (Revisited)

A while ago there were a few of you who said that after they set their timing, that a timing light showed it to be WAY advanced, like 20-30 degrees. I think I asked once before but I’ll try again. If you’re not setting it with a timing light in the first place, what are you setting it with?

A: I originally asked this timing question. I set the timing by ear and feel. I loosen the distributor and advance it until the engine starts to miss, then back the timing off a little. Then I rev the engine and see to see if it pings. If it does ping, I retarding the timing a little rev the engine again. I keep doing this until the pinging is gone or very, very minimal.

All the mechanics I know never use a timing light and use this method.

A: The only problem I have ever had with using that method is that with the timing set to run it’s best at 700 or 800 RPM, often it will have too much initial timing to start easily. What I try to do is set the initial by what will start easily (as much as it will take w/out trouble) then adjust the weights and springs to get the total advance I need, and have it start coming in fairly early, like 700 or 800 RPM. It’s a lot of trial and error work, but it has always worked well for me. Then once I have it right I check it with a light and write it down so that I can put it back next time I have the distributor out.

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