HELP! My Ghetto Timing Method, Will it work?

conartist

Member

Dec 4, 2002

77

0

6

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Jun 18, 2004

#1

• Jun 18, 2004

• #1

I need to retard the timing 4 degrees on my stang to pass the smog test.

The problem is that I don't have a timing gun!

So here's my idea, make a cardboard cutout of a 1/2" thick ring that will fit exactly around the shaft of the distributor. Get out the trusty old protractor and mark lines 4 degrees apart. Scribe a notch on the distributor base and then rotate it between the lines on the cardboard.

Questions
- will a 4 degree rotation of the dist. shaft equal a 4 degree timing change?
- which direction, clockwise or counterclockwise is advance and retard?

Thanks

 

cobradvm

New Member

Sep 2, 2003

245

1

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Woodinville, WA

Jun 19, 2004

#2

• Jun 19, 2004

• #2

Clockwise is advance, anticlockwise is retard - other than that you are on your own!

Good luck.

Howard

 

ECU5.0

Banned

Jan 10, 2004

1,803

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raleigh, nc

Jun 19, 2004

#3

• Jun 19, 2004

• #3

dude, a timing gun cost like 30 bucks at advance auto......just get one, it will be a lot easier than havin to bust out a protractor to adjust your timing

 

FiveO

Founding Member

Jan 28, 2001

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NJ

Jun 19, 2004

#4

• Jun 19, 2004

• #4

 

IMPORTSMOKER

Member

Feb 16, 2004

201

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RIVERSIDE, CA

Jun 19, 2004

#5

• Jun 19, 2004

• #5

conartist said:

make a cardboard cutout of a 1/2" thick ring that will fit exactly around the shaft of the distributor. Get out the trusty old protractor and mark lines 4 degrees apart. Scribe a notch on the distributor base and then rotate it between the lines on the cardboard.

Click to expand...

c'mon man...this is a joke right?? your ASE certified or something right??? Although it is a funny one...

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

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129

Jun 19, 2004

#6

• Jun 19, 2004

• #6

oh my.

 

MahFiVeOh

Founding Member

Apr 26, 2002

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Ontario, Canada

Jun 19, 2004

#7

• Jun 19, 2004

• #7

 

timewarped1972

Member

Jun 17, 2004

642

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16

mesa, az

Jun 19, 2004

#8

• Jun 19, 2004

• #8

if i may ask, if you have no timing light how do you know it needs to be retarded 4 degree's to begin with??
actually if it were 4 degree's you could scribe a line on the distributor and the manifold and rotate it counter clockwise about 3/32's and thad be about 4 degree's......thad be the easy ghetto way to do it.....lol.....you would'nt be trying to con us car guys, would ya, conartist?....lol

 

ThatStangGuy

Member

Oct 13, 2002

32

0

6

Kingsville, Ontario

Jun 21, 2004

#9

• Jun 21, 2004

• #9

Dude,
i have one here at the office in windsor. if you still need one, you can borrow mine. I don't have any tools here though. if interested, pm me and i'll shoot my phone number over

ger

 

F

freakazoid

New Member

Apr 13, 2001

22

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1

El Paso, Texas

Jun 21, 2004

#10

• Jun 21, 2004

• #10

ignition timing is relative to the crank shaft, recall that the timing pointer on is on the crank and the balancer is scribed. best thing is to use a tiimg light. After you pass the smog test you can prove out your distributor degree theory. Let is know how it works !

 

J

jerry beach

Founding Member

May 20, 2002

2,671

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46

Ocala,FL

Jun 21, 2004

#11

• Jun 21, 2004

• #11

Someone marked my dist. base and the block with a hammer and screwdriver. When I put my dist back in, I used those marks to line it up exactly where it was. When I put the timing light on it, I was off by 4 degrees. So no, that wont work at all. Get a timing light, and buy a decent one, not the cheapest you can find. Good luck.

 

BlackGT89

Member

Dec 16, 2002

774

8

18

Huntsville, AL

Jun 21, 2004

#12

• Jun 21, 2004

• #12

conartist said:

Questions
- will a 4 degree rotation of the dist. shaft equal a 4 degree timing change?

Click to expand...

Also, the distributor rotates at half-crankshaft speed. Either way it certainly wouldn't be very "precision". Here is an interesting article on ignition timing even though it's pre-computer related.
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/03/timing/index.shtml