Need Advice on Base Timing For My E Cam

[Instigator Al]

Im running an E cam with gt 40 x heads and 24 lbs injectors aftermarket MAF etc.


Ive heard that these E CAMs like a lot of base timing, like 16 to 18 degrees. Is this true?

The guy who tuned and chipped my car left the base timing around 11 degrees.

He told me that the base timing did not matter because the overall timing was set with the SCT tune.

I DON'T BELIEVE HIM.

Does the base timing matter if the total timing has been set by a chip?

My car Dynoed at 248 RWP and 289 RWT. The HP number seems a little low but the TORQUE seems really low and feels pathetic.

Below 3000 RPMs my car runs like a stuck pig. I know I need gears but still it should feel better then it does.
Opinions Plese

AL

 

[dtlionsfan]

34-36 total timing.Spout in and RPM up.

 

[izzleon]

no

no thats the same set up i have except i dont have it chipped.... any way my car felt slugish under 3000 rpm but i had timing at around 11 also i advance it to like 15 or 16 and wow makes a big difference

 

[SPEEDYLIFSAVR]

yep.....16* here with similiar mods.....runs strong as hell .

 

[Foxfan88]

i wouldnt go into it saying "this cam like this much timing" seeing how each engine is different! EACH ENGINE. i dont care if they were built with the exact same parts they are going to act a LITTLE different.

start at 10degrees base, and work your way up little by little, and set it at where the car runs best.

IF you had a custom tune, all the timing advance should have been done and set in the ECU then, i deally when you get a custom tune you want to set base timing to 10, this is stock and what the computer knows is stock. and do ALL the timing advance within the EEC.

adding base advance, say you bump from 10 to 14, you will be adding 4 degrees more timing at every increment your ECU advances timing. like stated before you its best to do all that within the ECU while tuning.

the numbers dont seem to bad. your mods arent too extensive. E-cam is pretty mild and the gt40 x heads arent the best flowing you cant expect top numbersyou must remember there are tons of variables. dynos vary all the time. like from what i gather Mustang dynos read a little lower than dyno jets.

you must also figure the altitude, which plays a big role in power output, dont forget air temp, plays a huge role in performance. the difference b/w a hot summer day and a freezing cold winter day is HUGE.

i wouldnt look to a dyno to give you SUPER ACCURATE power readings, i would use it to see if something did infact increase power. like make a pull, then work it over to a short belt setup, add pullies, or if you have time swap out an intake. while the variables like temp and humidity are still the same. then you can see how much a mod helped out.

if u still think its down on alot of power you wont find it in the timing, ignition timing will not make a huge difference at all. as long as your car is starting, idling and driving good with pingin, your in the general ball park and you wont notice much differnce by changing it. now if your car is hard starting, running rough, popping and crapping everywhere timing could be a ways off.

 

[Instigator Al]

Hey Foxfan, Thanks for the long reply. Its interesting how many different opinions one gets on the same question. Ive talked to guys who swear up and down that even with a chip an E cammed or similar Cammed car likes more timing.

That being said , I still feel like the car should pull harder. My Mods are actually quite extensive . Along with the GT40X heads E Cam, 24 lbs Injectors im running 1.6 roller Rockers ,70 MM TB , 75 MM Pro M MAF ,Underdrives, Long Tubes , Hi flo H pipe ,Cobra intake and a built AOD with a lentech valve body and 2600 stall converter.

That to me is an extensive list. I feel that there is a better tune out there somewhere.

I advanced the base to 16 today and it feels as if it pulls a liitle harder.

I guess some 4:10 gears are my last option short of forced induction.

 

[Foxfan88]

i'm running about 16* base with mine also with 87 octane it runs great.

you could consider a tweecer, the learning curve is high but once you get it down you dont have to spend any money on tunes and you can do it all yourself you can tinker and do the same or better job a pro tuner can

as for the power stuff.

i feel like my car should pull harder, i think everyone feels their car should pull just a BIT harder to an extent lol

thats part of owning a mustang or any hotrod in general. YOUR NEVER SATISFIED, never since i have owned my 5 liter stang have i been SATISFIED, where all voids were filled and all was complete. sure some mods like gears and the t5 swap were huge and for a couple weeks or something i would be like OH YA, then the bug bites again and i craved more power. i am getting a SC on in the next week and i am sure its going to satisfy me only for a while then i will be craving more power and throwing pullies on to go faster. it goes on forever

i dynoed my car and it made 225HP and 275 RWTQ on a mustang dyno, some say the mustang dynos read low. i had some serious timing issues then i sorted that out and its running better. i feel it could be a bit faster but i look back and think, i start the thing anytime i want, it idles like a champ, drive like a champ and doesnt give me any problems. and as it sits now, i can go to the track and bust off a 13.3x with ease. then i start to see its not that bad.

thats all going to change for me though, i have a vortech SC trim coming in the mail tomorrow, my cars apart ready for the blower and i am sure its going to help a ton, instead of the car working to get air its getting it fairly easy and 3rd and 4th gear will be alot better. right now it pulls hard in 1st and 2nd but n/a in 3rd and 4th it sort of doesnt really pull as hard. my friends car with a SC pulls way harder on the top end than mine and he has a stock engine.

a blower would help your car alot

good luck with whatever happens!

 

[Instigator Al]

Posted by Foxfan
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i feel like my car should pull harder, i think everyone feels their car should pull just a BIT harder to an extent lol

thats part of owning a mustang or any hotrod in general. YOUR NEVER SATISFIED
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Hey Brother, Truer words have never been spoken

Thanks for the kind words and good luck with the Vortech.

AL

 

[dynamic typhoon]

I agree every car is different I have e cam also timing will not run at top power under stock tdc enhance the distributor until it dies or runs weird the back up inch by inch run it till it's warm try starting it if it starts slow back up inch by inch till it starts normal then tighten down that's the motor at is rarest ive Chad that problem no timing light needed and I pulled out the chip to set basic timing because I didn't want the computer trying to alter timing for me this is what I wanted my mustang ice skates and second gear even scares the he'll out of the lt1

 

[FoxMustangLvr]

I'd like to buy a . , ? !