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Setting and checking timing (initial and total)

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  • #543063
    SDMAN1981SDMAN1981
    Participant

      OK, I get the general concept on what initial and total timing is, but am confused on how to read and set the timing. I am using a digital timing light, so when CHECKING initial timing at idle do I just push the up and down button till the mark on the harmonic balancer lines up with “0” on the tab? Is that BTDC?

      It’s a chevy 350.

      Sorry to sound like an idiot.

    Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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      Replies
    • #543161
      college mancollege man
      Moderator

        see if this helps. what year make and model.

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWJiK83glXE

        #543163
        BillBill
        Participant

          If the mark is at, say at 4 degrees and you push the button and line up the mark with the zero line the digital readout should show 4 degrees.

          #543179
          SDMAN1981SDMAN1981
          Participant

            It’s a 1969 El camino 350 th-350 the 350 engine is not original though.

            #543181
            BillBill
            Participant

              I would say that 4 degrees BTDC should put you in the ball park That is with the vacuum advance hose disconnected. It will be trial and error. If the engine pings or has no power you might need to change it either way.If the engine originally had California emissions it might be different.

              #543183
              SDMAN1981SDMAN1981
              Participant

                OK how would I check initial and total? line up the mark on the balancer to “0” on the timing tab?

                #543185
                BillBill
                Participant

                  Yeah….you can do it that way. Just read the read out on your timing light. There is a spec for total advance but to find it you would need the distributor number. Chances are it’s not the original for the engine anyway.

                  Basically you would speed up the engine until the line on the balancer stops climbing. Push the button on the timing light until the line on the balancer lines up with zero on the scale. The readout on the timing light is the total advance. I like to see 36 to 40 degreese on those engines.

                  #543188
                  SDMAN1981SDMAN1981
                  Participant

                    Just wanted to make sure, I went and tested it with engine hot and pushed the ‘up’ button on my timing light till the mark on the harmonic balancer met with the “0” mark on the timing tab. Read 9 on the light.

                    #543191
                    BillBill
                    Participant

                      Ok………so it’s at 9 degrees BTDC. If you speed up the engine and do the same thing as at idle, that will be your total advance.

                      #543194
                      SDMAN1981SDMAN1981
                      Participant

                        Yeah, I’m guessing it’s between 34-36 Total. I’ll check it tomorrow.

                        #543204
                        BillBill
                        Participant

                          That’s close enough, bud.

                          #543227
                          SDMAN1981SDMAN1981
                          Participant

                            Thanks a lot. I only wish Eric would cover these types of tools more in detail in his videos.

                            #543243
                            BillBill
                            Participant

                              Yeah, but tools like the timing light are gonna be on the extinct list soon. Old farts like me are the only ones who know how to use them. anymore.

                              #543249
                              SDMAN1981SDMAN1981
                              Participant

                                True, but it never hurts to learn how to use one.

                                #543256
                                BillBill
                                Participant

                                  I think you caught on pretty fast. Older timing lights didn’t have a digital readout so we had to either mark out the balancer or gestimate with our eyeballs.

                                Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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