• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech

Car runs best at 2 deg. timing??

  • Thread starter Thread starter JDaus77
  • Start date Start date Apr 13, 2004
J

JDaus77

New Member
Apr 8, 2004
5
0
0
Mount Vernon, IN
Apr 13, 2004
#1
  • Apr 13, 2004
  • #1
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

Active Member
May 23, 2003
1,723
2
39
Macomb, IL
Apr 13, 2004
#2
  • Apr 13, 2004
  • #2
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

New Member
May 19, 2003
2,943
0
0
Bellevue, WA (yes, the land where every 16 year o
Apr 13, 2004
#3
  • Apr 13, 2004
  • #3
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

Officially Addicted
Feb 8, 2003
6,659
1
0
Portland, Oregon
Apr 13, 2004
#4
  • Apr 13, 2004
  • #4
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
 
9

95.0Stang

Member
Feb 20, 2003
538
1
18
Kansas
Apr 13, 2004
#5
  • Apr 13, 2004
  • #5
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!
 
J

JDaus77

New Member
Apr 8, 2004
5
0
0
Mount Vernon, IN
Apr 14, 2004
#6
  • Apr 14, 2004
  • #6
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

Active Member
Apr 11, 2003
2,605
0
46
Dothan,Al
Apr 14, 2004
#7
  • Apr 14, 2004
  • #7
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

Active Member
Oct 27, 2003
2,849
0
46
Tampa Florida....USF!!!
Apr 14, 2004
#8
  • Apr 14, 2004
  • #8
are you looking at the mark that says time and not looking in that circle?
 
J

JDaus77

New Member
Apr 8, 2004
5
0
0
Mount Vernon, IN
Apr 14, 2004
#9
  • Apr 14, 2004
  • #9
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.
 
9

95.0Stang

Member
Feb 20, 2003
538
1
18
Kansas
Apr 14, 2004
#10
  • Apr 14, 2004
  • #10
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

Officially Addicted
Feb 8, 2003
6,659
1
0
Portland, Oregon
Apr 14, 2004
#11
  • Apr 14, 2004
  • #11
95.0Stang said:
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!!!
Click to expand...
Cam timing != ignition timing.

Dave
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Fuel ‘88 GT Runs Rich Cold — Fixes Itself When I Unplug Sensors (ECT, MAF, O2, etc.)
  • Sufarry
  • Nov 6, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
12
Views
856
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Nov 9, 2025
Mustang5L5
6
Hey all,I’m putting together a 302 for my 1968 Mustang and wanted to post the combo + some questions to make sure I’m not missing crucial
  • 68_Disgustang
  • Feb 22, 2026
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
893
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Jun 20, 2026
gray owl
G
R
1974 Datsun 620 pickup / 5.0L HO
  • RJH46
  • Aug 24, 2025
  • Other Auto Tech
Replies
1
Views
243
Other Auto Tech Aug 24, 2025
Noobz347
Tips for WUE and ASE tuning
  • Mustang5L5
  • Oct 9, 2025
  • Digital Self-tuning Forum
Replies
1
Views
565
Digital Self-tuning Forum Oct 10, 2025
gkomo
Drivetrain 83’ Glx convertible C5 Trans help!
  • JacksonJared2113
  • Dec 25, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
393
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Dec 26, 2025
JacksonJared2113
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?