Getting rid of a mild ping

[SadbutTrue]

Going up a steep hill or whenever I hit the throttle, my engine starts pinging. I believe it started roughly the same time I put my MSD in, so I'm going to gap the spark plugs more (already put them to .045", but I've been todl to go to .055"). I plan on retiming it, though its currenlty only set at 12 degrees BTDC. Also going to get a pertronix ignition setup and then move up to 91 octane if I need to (already running 89, which from my point of view should not be needed as it is). Any other ideas?

For reference, it has stock compression (I believe 9.5:1, unless I got lucky).

 

[mustang70]

What's your total timing? I was at 12* base timing and around 34* total and didn't have any problems when I ran 91 octane. That's with 9.5:1 compression. Something else, if your engine starts to heat up going over the hill it'll cause it to ping.

 

[SadbutTrue]

it may just be then that I need 91 octane, since i have yet to try that. we shall see.

 

[rbohm]

keep your plug gaps at .045, and back your initial timing down to 10 degrees. that should cure your ping.

 

[2nd Mustang]

My 302 is set at 18 degrees. It can run 87, but I do run 91 as there is a little more "pep" with the higher octane.

 

[Hack]

My 302 is set at 18 degrees. It can run 87, but I do run 91 as there is a little more "pep" with the higher octane.

Sorry, but it's your imagination. Higher octane doesn't give you more power, unless there's detonation at the lower octane that you aren't hearing.

 

[D.Hearne]

Going up a steep hill or whenever I hit the throttle, my engine starts pinging. I believe it started roughly the same time I put my MSD in, so I'm going to gap the spark plugs more (already put them to .045", but I've been todl to go to .055"). I plan on retiming it, though its currenlty only set at 12 degrees BTDC. Also going to get a pertronix ignition setup and then move up to 91 octane if I need to (already running 89, which from my point of view should not be needed as it is). Any other ideas?

For reference, it has stock compression (I believe 9.5:1, unless I got lucky).

If you're running a stock cam in that 351, then your timing's too far advanced for 89 octane gas and 9.5 to 1 compression. A larger than stock cam will allow you to run that octane with that compression with that much timing.