One more Newbie question: Headers & timing

Welcome to Stangnet!!!

First I would recomend going out and buying a chilton or haynes manual for you car. I have both and seems one explains somethings better than the other and vice-versa.

As for the header it could give you problems not sure. You should be able to hear or feel it if it is leaking.

For timing you need a timing light. Hook the timing light power up to the battery and the clamp lead to the #1 cyclinder plug wire. It is on the passenger side front wire. Remove the spout connector which is on the wires going to the distributor. Make sure you can read the timing marks on the balancer, you may need to clean it or mark 10 or 12 degrees with white-out or chalk to see it. Start engine, pull trigger on timing light while pointing it at the balancer and timing pointer. You can probably run up to 14 degrees with you setup but just at 10 a go up from there. If you need to adjust it loosen the distributer and turn it slowly to adjust timing. Always test in small advances ie 2 degrees or less. If you start to get detination or pinging back it off a bit. Put spout connector back when done.

Hope that helps. And get that spark plug tighter than that.

Just read on your other post that you have a crane ingintion box. I am not real familar with these but I know it has adjustable timing. Not sure what to set timing at with that box.

Maybe someone has one and will know.

Timing "how to"

http://www.leemotorsports.com/stang22/timing.htm

Timing pointer and balancer are located on the front (lower front) portion of the engine. Find the water pump and look right below that on the passenger side.


For more information on what the Crane box does you can read up about it on their website: www.cranecams.com So far mine has given be better idle properties and better throttle response.


Welcome to the boards!

FWIW, one should be running premium gas if advancing timing. Seen many people want to bump timing but still use regular 87 octane.