Is my timing adjustable?

im2damncool

Founding Member
Dec 28, 1999
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Chico, CA
So, I don't know #$@ about @#$$. I have a 94 GT and I'm trying to get the timing right. The EEIC label on my hood says the timings not adjustable on my car. But I think when I bought it used it had already had a questionable history.(the hood paint looks newer than the fenders etc) So is it okay to adjust the timing on that engine by just turning the distributor?
 
im2damncool said:
So, I don't know #$@ about @#$$. I have a 94 GT and I'm trying to get the timing right. The EEIC label on my hood says the timings not adjustable on my car. But I think when I bought it used it had already had a questionable history.(the hood paint looks newer than the fenders etc) So is it okay to adjust the timing on that engine by just turning the distributor?

Yes the timing can be adjusted. You're going to want to have a timing light to make sure you get the desired timing. I believe turning the distributor left increases timing (somebody correct me) and you're going to want to aim somewhere around 14 degrees on a relatively stock car...assuming the fuel and air systems are all functioning properly
 
Turning the distributer to the left will retard the timing, to advance it turn it to th right. If you're wanting it perfectly on, you need to pull your spout connector. It's over by your mass air flow sensor.
 
So the label on the hood means the hood was pulled from a different model? My car pings a bit when it's going up a hill. Also the whole car shakes pretty violently at about 1000 rpm. I don't know how to check any of the fuel or air systems for proper functioning, so I'm trying to correct these things by adjusting the timing.
 
im2damncool said:
So the label on the hood means the hood was pulled from a different model? My car pings a bit when it's going up a hill. Also the whole car shakes pretty violently at about 1000 rpm. I don't know how to check any of the fuel or air systems for proper functioning, so I'm trying to correct these things by adjusting the timing.

If the car is pinging under heavy load then there's a possibility the timing has been changed. Get a timing light or take it to a shop to ensure that you actually know what the timing is set at...before you go blindly turning the distributor.

Is the shaking coming from the drivetrain or from the motor? do you feel it through the gear box? the pedals?
 
not through the pedals. More like the whole motor is just moving around shaking the whole car.
Also a shop recently pulled the distributor and replaced the little chip that's on the inside wall of it. I don't remember what it's called. Anyway, when he put it back in the car was pinging pretty bad just accelerating. So I adjusted it to where it's not pinging under normal conditions. Should I go a little further and see if it stops pinging all together? I don't have a timing light though I should probably just go buy one.
 
im2damncool said:
not through the pedals. More like the whole motor is just moving around shaking the whole car.
Also a shop recently pulled the distributor and replaced the little chip that's on the inside wall of it. I don't remember what it's called. Anyway, when he put it back in the car was pinging pretty bad just accelerating. So I adjusted it to where it's not pinging under normal conditions. Should I go a little further and see if it stops pinging all together? I don't have a timing light though I should probably just go buy one.

Yeah there's nothing wrong with that...just make sure you get the timing checked so that it's not hiding a whole different problem
 
I would want to make sure the balancer didnt slip. The shop might have timed the car with a slipped balancer, which would toss the timing out of whack. The vibrations at 1K RPM and pinging are worrysome. You can bring the motor to TDC and note the timing reference on the balancer to see if the outer ring slipped noticably.

It seems to me that many Cali cars have had notations on the VECI stickers to not change the base timing or mixture for some time.

Here is some info on setting timing.

Good luck.
 
check your balancer to see if its spewing rubber out the back, if so replace it with a stocker and then set your timing.


my balancer was only slightly bad and it was off 2 degrees high. I dynoed the car and tuned it to "12" degrees then a week later found out it was at 14. it was fine since thats wher eit made the most power.