• Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech

timing question

  • Thread starter Thread starter 351w fastback
  • Start date Start date Sep 20, 2004
3

351w fastback

New Member
Jul 25, 2004
91
0
0
Sep 20, 2004
#1
  • Sep 20, 2004
  • #1
i just checked my timing on my car because at about 3500 it starts to hesitate or kinda miss... i checked it and it said it was on 30 degrees when it was idling? i know that isnt right so what could have gone wrong for it to show that? if it really was 30 degrees it wouldnt even start would it? i know i have a small vacuum leak cuz my intake leads oil in the front but what else could it be?
thanks
 
3

351w fastback

New Member
Jul 25, 2004
91
0
0
Sep 20, 2004
#2
  • Sep 20, 2004
  • #2
anybody?
 

6Stang7

New Member
Jun 1, 2003
1,470
0
0
Livermore, CA
Sep 21, 2004
#3
  • Sep 21, 2004
  • #3
timing marker could be wrong I suppose. I remember there being a thread where some guy had an insane timing setting like yours. I forget what it turned out to be. Once you get the reading right, I check your overall advancement.
 
D

D.Hearne

New Member
Sep 29, 2000
11,730
6
0
south louisiana
Sep 21, 2004
#4
  • Sep 21, 2004
  • #4
Just because your intake leaks oil in the front doesn't mean you've got a vacuum leak too. Reset the timing back to around 8-12 degrees.
 
3

351w fastback

New Member
Jul 25, 2004
91
0
0
Sep 21, 2004
#5
  • Sep 21, 2004
  • #5
i reset my timing to 12 and then test drove it and it didnt have any power and it would stumble and backfire a little bit. so i tried moving the timing each way until it got better. when the balancer is on tdc the #1 piston is on top.
 

WORTH

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 18, 2002
2,166
44
98
Cape Cod, Ma.
Sep 21, 2004
#6
  • Sep 21, 2004
  • #6
Couple of quick notes, make sure she doesn't have full vacuum at idle,(may be on the wrong port)

And #1 is on the right bank as your sitting in the car. (if you were on #5 you'd be 30 degrees off.)
 
3

351w fastback

New Member
Jul 25, 2004
91
0
0
Sep 21, 2004
#7
  • Sep 21, 2004
  • #7
Yeah we checked the right side. could the distributor be a tooth off?
 

WORTH

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 18, 2002
2,166
44
98
Cape Cod, Ma.
Sep 21, 2004
#8
  • Sep 21, 2004
  • #8
351w fastback said:
Yeah we checked the right side. could the distributor be a tooth off?
Click to expand...

it doesn't matter what tooth the distributor is on if you can adjust the timing to the correct #. The only time you'd have to skip a tooth is if you couldn't turn the distributor enough to get your setting correct.
 
O

Ozsum2

New Member
Jul 28, 2004
695
1
0
Sep 21, 2004
#9
  • Sep 21, 2004
  • #9
Sounds like the pointer is off. Just set it (without a timing light) (my preferred method) to where it runs and starts the best.
 
3

351w fastback

New Member
Jul 25, 2004
91
0
0
Sep 21, 2004
#10
  • Sep 21, 2004
  • #10
what else could it be? valve timing? anything else?
 

Max Power

Active Member
Jul 31, 2003
1,774
1
36
St Paul
Sep 21, 2004
#11
  • Sep 21, 2004
  • #11
Maybe the chain hopped a tooth and the ignition timing is making up for it?
 
3

351w fastback

New Member
Jul 25, 2004
91
0
0
Sep 21, 2004
#12
  • Sep 21, 2004
  • #12
well i set my timing at 14 degrees and hooked up a vacuum gauge and it bounces really fast between about 13 and 7 and when i increase the rpms it goes up to the normal reading. could this be a vacuum leak?
 

6Stang7

New Member
Jun 1, 2003
1,470
0
0
Livermore, CA
Sep 21, 2004
#13
  • Sep 21, 2004
  • #13
351w fastback said:
well i set my timing at 14 degrees and hooked up a vacuum gauge and it bounces really fast between about 13 and 7 and when i increase the rpms it goes up to the normal reading. could this be a vacuum leak?
Click to expand...
Well, what kind of cam do you have? High valve overlap cams have erratic vacuum at idle. What kind of carb do you have?
 
3

351w fastback

New Member
Jul 25, 2004
91
0
0
Sep 22, 2004
#14
  • Sep 22, 2004
  • #14
i have a 750 holley and a comp cams xe 274h.
 

6Stang7

New Member
Jun 1, 2003
1,470
0
0
Livermore, CA
Sep 22, 2004
#15
  • Sep 22, 2004
  • #15
Ok, cause I know of edelbrocks, they have two vacuum ports, and one has vacuum at idle and the other doesn't You want your vacuum advance to be in the port with no idle, so if you had it in the other, you'd have a righter timing reading. Does anyone know if holleys are like this?
 
D

D.Hearne

New Member
Sep 29, 2000
11,730
6
0
south louisiana
Sep 22, 2004
#16
  • Sep 22, 2004
  • #16
On a Holley, the vacuum port for the distributor is the one on the side of the main metering block.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Edelbrock 1405 Setup
  • nathantaylor200
  • Nov 4, 2025
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech
Replies
3
Views
190
Classic Mustang Specific Tech Nov 5, 2025
nathantaylor200
N
B
2001 v6 New compressor issue
  • badmech
  • Apr 30, 2026
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
66
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Apr 30, 2026
badmech
B
B
Engine Another no start after washing engine bay
  • bruno
  • Apr 26, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
24
Views
482
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 7, 2026
AeroCoupe
L
Help with 1986 GT 5 Speed Please
  • Lcasada1999
  • Mar 20, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
6
Views
180
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 21, 2026
General karthief
J
Emission problems
  • jls.zmmr
  • Feb 5, 2026
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
2
Views
205
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Feb 7, 2026
AeroCoupe
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?