Detonation

[Paul Perreca]

yea i have a timing light, but when we couldnt' see it when we went to do it, other stuff came up n i had to get the car out of the shop, so ive been driving it, waiting for the shop to clear out so i can get it in there and do it right - it's def half assed the way we did it and that ear method

 

[DMAN302]

Don't take it personal Paul, I was just trying to get the point across that if you put all that time and effort into a project like this then you can't ignore the details to get it finished right. Putting the time in not ignoring the details is what separates a fine car from all the others...put the effort in because the results are there for the taking.

 

[gcwh02]

sounds to me like the timing is too high paul, when i was adjusting my timing by ear, when it was set too high it would only ping in WOT. Im sure you are not far off. Mark that balancer with marker, white out, etc and your good to go

 

[Paul Perreca]

i'll see about getting my dad to help me tap this baby in this weekend, I need him there cuz i gotta get his ok to get the car in the shop, n he'll be here so he can guideme cuz i seriously probably mess up the timing lol

 

[Paul Perreca]

Latest thought - My car was running super lean due to the old spark plugs we took out, and due to the crazy lean smell when the car was running inside the garage, almost couldn't breath and got a little teary... Anyway, lean means the FP needs to be bumped up... correct? If this is the case, maybe the spark plugs being down farther don't accept a lean condition like the old short ones did, and thus why it did not detonate until I put in the longer plugs, thus again, making me need to up the FP and check the timing (of course) and also, maybe put a higher octane gas in it, because i was running 89 - any thoughts?

 

[Black1987Stang]

i'll see about getting my dad to help me tap this baby in this weekend, I need him there cuz i gotta get his ok to get the car in the shop, n he'll be here so he can guideme cuz i seriously probably mess up the timing lol

You dont have to bring it in a shop or anything, seriously only takes 2 minutes, Ive done it everywhere, my driveway, friends house, random parking lot, everywhere. Its never fun doing anything in the cold but since ur Dads got a shop might as well use it if u can. Someone has a nice link on setting the timing, not sure who though. All u need is a timing light and a 1/2 inch wrench and ur set. Just put a mark on 10 degrees or wherever u want it and time it to that, and adjust it off that mark to go higher timing. Or if u got the gun with the dial on the back like me u can put a mark at 0 on the balancer and just set the gun to the degree u want, adjust it, tighten it and recheck and ur done. After u took the Spout conenctor out first of course and dont forget to put it back in

 

[HISSIN50]

Paul, higher octane wont help ya much with leanness. And reading plugs is a tough game. EFI motors make it real hard to do anyhow. You would need to make a WOT run and shut the motor down at WOT. Then coast to a stop and pull them for a reading.

I would use a CO meter or other device to read the mixture, instead of making deductions which could lead ya down the wrong road. Know what I mean? Chasing issues that arent there sucks.

Good luck bud.

 

[DMAN302]

Latest thought - My car was running super lean due to the old spark plugs we took out, and due to the crazy lean smell when the car was running inside the garage, almost couldn't breath and got a little teary... Anyway, lean means the FP needs to be bumped up... correct? If this is the case, maybe the spark plugs being down farther don't accept a lean condition like the old short ones did, and thus why it did not detonate until I put in the longer plugs, thus again, making me need to up the FP and check the timing (of course) and also, maybe put a higher octane gas in it, because i was running 89 - any thoughts?

Well stock fuel pressure setting is what I run..with an adjustable regulator, so most likely you're not needing more pressure. Just check the timing and don't waste YOUR time playing with FP (especially without a gauge...stock regualtor means stock pressure and that's good for your set up), and wasting money running higher octaine fuel than you need. Work methodically towards the solution don't guess and assume..Good luck Paul...GER ER DONE. Oh by the way..that terrible smell your getting is likely because your running FAT not lean...lean would not smell.

 

[Paul Perreca]

yea i have an aftermarket AFPR - it's not the stock one, and i don't know what it is set at!

 

[DMAN302]

Paul you need to definately get a gauge on that fuel line, or install the factory regualtor..not knowing what's going on could really be hurting you right now, combined with not knowing you actuall timing..hell you could be WAY out of whack and end up doing some damage if your driving aggressively.

 

[Paul Perreca]

yea haven't been driving aggressiviley at all, i set my (new tach w/ shift light) new shift light to 3000 rpms so it never pings cuz i always make sure i shift before then, i justl ike seein the shift light too lol I will be tuning asap - i'm gonna save for the dyno baby!

 

[87GTSnake]

Just a thought......... are you still running the stock fuel pump?

 

[Paul Perreca]

yes i am

 

[Black1987Stang]

yes i am

I wouldnt run it at any high rpms that would make u lean too, although ur problem doesnt sound like ur lean anyways. Just get a gauge on that rail and ur timing set ASAP Good luck