age old question..setting and adjusting timing....

[Stang_1973]

Well i figured thered be more info on this in the archives but didnt see anything that helped me out too much.


So If some of you have read my previous posts about cub idle speed and adjusting the carb,

Id like to move on to checking, setting, adjusting my timing.

How is this done? (very general question, i know)

But considering many of us on here do not have stock engines id like to know how i do this. What is the process, step by step i should take to adjust my timing.

What is the #1 cylinder? what do i need to disconnect before starting? How do i know what degree im at? Anything else i need to know.

Considering the mods in my sig, i was told i should advance my timing to somewhere around 16. IDK how im supposed t tell where its at at now.

And well some might think these are silly questions,, but ive always lived by the rlule that the dumbest question is the one that doesnt get asked, and i do want to learn.

thanks guys.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Most of your questions are answered in the shop manual. You do have a shop manual .... right?

 

[Stang_1973]

Nope. where can i get one? I looked for them like when i go down to the parts store but they dont have em.

 

[Stang_1973]

never mind where can i get one, i clicked on the pic.

 

[afast93stang]

Shop manuals can be purchased on eBay, NPD, CJ Pony Parts, Dallas Mustang, etc... any and most parts vendors sell them.

Its also a good idea to purchase a timing gun (light)


4 8
3 7
2 6
1 5
Front
of
Engine

 

[Stang_1973]

Shop manuals can be purchased on eBay, NPD, CJ Pony Parts, Dallas Mustang, etc... any and most parts vendors sell them.

Its also a good idea to purchase a timing gun (light)


4 8
3 7
2 6
1 5
Front
of
Engine

thanks for the diagram.

 

[rbohm]

as far as actually specs, i like to set my initial timing between 10 and 14 degrees. i usually use 10 degrees.

 

[zookeeper]

#1 cylinder is always the farthest cylinder forward, and that applies to any engine I've ever worked on. Having said that, there is two different timing issues to deal with: first you need to set your intial advance. You do that by disconnecting the vacuum line, plugging the port it came off of (tape will work) and setting the advance somewhere between 10-14 degrees. Next you need to verify total timing, and I do that by reconnecting the vacuum line, then have a freind hold the throttle open until the engine reaches a steady 2700-2900 rpm, then re-check the timing with your light again. The total advance needs to be 32-34 degrees for pump gas. Always follow up any tuning session with a test drive. Drive at a steady speed, then accelerate to put the enigne under a load. Listen for pinging especially. Also see if the motor starts easily and shuts off without dieseling after you shut it off. If it pings, back it off one or two degrees and re-test. There's lots of other tricks to tuning a distributer's advance curve, such as playing with the wieghts and springs and using a different advance slot in your distributer, but following the basics will get you a long way towards making good power.

 

[Stang_1973]

Thanks!