Quick! Timing HELP!!

projectfiveo said:

I need to set my timing asap but I was wondering what to set it to? I have alot of boltons and 4.10 gear... no H/C/I... i had it set to 14 degrees but everyones been telling me to go 16?? Is there a gain to me made with 16? Thanks guys

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no. 14 is about the most you want. unless you are running boost, high copmression and a high octane fuel you wont benifit from going any higher than 14

I always like to check the pointer and balancer, I just put it at TDC on compression and make sure it's lined up to 0 on the balancer......I've had a balancer that had slipped 30 degrees, looked fine too....nightmare figuring out why my timing was messed up, I always do it just in case if it's 2 degrees off, u might think ur at 14 but might be at 16 etc....Just my 2 cents.

I ran one of my cars with stock ported heads and average springs and car loved 18 degrees so bump it up alittle drive and find out where it pings at then start backing down
ran mine at 18 and 16 on the juice with 100 shot can ran great 11.70's

smallstang393 said:

bump it up alittle drive and find out where it pings at then start backing down

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Remember damage to the engine can occur BEFORE "pinging" becomes noticeable to the human ear. Crocodile ear's, on the other hand, are a different story.

But seriously, I would leave your timing as it is. You wouldn't want to run the risk of having to put premium gas in your engine anyway, unless you're currently doing that already.

Black1987Stang.... you mentioned making sure the balancer lined up .... how do you put it to top dead center on compression?

AnthonyR23 said:

Black1987Stang.... you mentioned making sure the balancer lined up .... how do you put it to top dead center on compression?

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Take out the sparkplugs, or just #1 cylinder plug (front plug on passenger side) if you don't mind having it harder to turn over.....

2.put a little piece of paper towel or someone's finger in/over the #1 spark plug hole, keep turning the motor over with a socket on the crank bolt until the paper towel gets pushed

out, or you feel pressure building up in the cylinder and trying to get out past your finger (means it's on the compression stroke, not exhaust)....Stop cranking the motor over.

3.put a long screwdriver, metal rod, anything you can stick in the spark plug till you touch the piston, keep turning and watching the rod, it's going to go UP then stop and then come down.....you want to get it to where its in the middle, not in the travels going up or down.....If I go past too far I back up 1/4 of a turn past the middle point so when I go back the normal direction of rotation to find the highest point I take up any slack that might be in the motor, in the timing chain or whichever.(thats just me tho)

4. Once you find the highest point of the piston (TDC).....STOP!. The 0 on the balancer Should match up to the mark on the timing cover....if not, then something's not right.....either the outer of the balancer of the balancer spun or something.

That should help you out. Sean

thanks alot!!! much appreciated... I will test that out.. planning on checking my timing this weekend!!

No prob

timing could be set anywhere from 12-18ish each car will be different. Plug gap can make a difference, the weather, type of fuel. On my stock motor I ran 87 octane wit the timing locked at 34 degrees (no spout) thats where it ran the best. has ove 190K on the motor and its still flying 12.2's @108

change it and see what happens