Car runs best at 2 deg. timing??

[JDaus77]

Can anyone tell me why my 95 runs best at 2 deg. initial timing. If I set it at the factory setting of 10 deg. it pings like crazy. When I got the car a year ago it ran best at 14 deg. like most. Since then the only major change has been an Anderson PMS which is no longer on the car. The distributor was taken out once for an intake manifold swap. I've checked everything I can think of. The car runs great this way, but I can't help but think I'm leaving a lot of power on the table. Any suggestions?

Mods:

GT-40 iron heads
E-303 cam
Eldebrock Performer RPM Intake
Mac long-tube headers
Factory 95 computer
373 gears
80mm Maf
24# injectors
255 pump

 

[moneypit94]

are you sure that your pointer and balancer are aligned correctly. I would assume unless you have swapped a new one in that this wouldn't be the case.

But to check it get a piston stop and put it in the #1 cylinder and go all the way one way mark it on your balncer, then go all the way the other way and mark it on your balancer. The middle of your two marks will be 0*.

 

[viperos]

most likely they are not alligned correctly, if you were running at 2deg, you'd have a little yappy dog on your hand... do the 1/4 in 22.9@66MPH...

-you could also have your dist. reveresed... that would cause you to be reading backward timing... or maybe you're reading the thing wrong because it's possibly dirty... you could be reading 12, and like 20 insead of 2 and 10... just a thought...

 

[Rootus]

Ideas.

1. Spun balancer
2. Timing pointer bent and in wrong location
3. Timing light hooked to wrong wire

As mentioned earlier, verifying that 0 on the balancer is in fact TDC is the first step.

Dave

 

[95.0Stang]

Your harmonic balancer may need to be replaced.

Start the car, and look down at it, if it wobbles at all you need to get a new one!!! I had this problem, and had to run the car at 6* if I remember right!

 

[JDaus77]

Actually, its a new balancer that was put on recently. I did this because it was reading the same way on the old one, and thought it had possibly spun or slipped. Anyway, I put the new on on and it reads the same way. I've checked to make sure the dist. is in correctly, and I know the timing light is hooked up fine. I'm puzzled.

 

[mytight95]

replace your IAC sensor in the intake tube, they are known to cause pinging etc., assuming the cam was installed correctly, did you degree it or dot to dot it or what method did you use


jason

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

are you looking at the mark that says time and not looking in that circle?

 

[JDaus77]

Yes, I've been looking at the timing mark. I always lined it up at 14* before and it ran great for months. Now I can't even approach 7* without massive pinging. Another thing I forgot to mention is that when I do try to advance the timing, besides pinging badly, it also bucks and surges really bad under part throttle. I'm not sure what that means either. It runs very strong where it's set at now ( 2 deg. ) which is strange.

 

[95.0Stang]

Have you checked the timing chain at all, usually it does not happen, but maybe you somehow jumped a sprocket or two, or maybe it just flat out needs replaced!!!

 

[Rootus]

Have you checked the timing chain at all, usually it does not happen, but maybe you somehow jumped a sprocket or two, or maybe it just flat out needs replaced!!!

Cam timing != ignition timing.

Dave