TIMING QUESTION

[epmustanggt]

ok i have a 302 with a roller cam setup in my 1966 gt mustang, it has trw forged pistons, trickflow street heat high port heads, edelbrock rpm airgap intake and a holley 4150 650cfm double pumper.

now here is the question, when i go to time my engine i put the timing light on the number one spark plug wire and turn it on at idle (with the vaccum advance off and plugged) and the 0 on my harmonic balencer is at about the 1:00 position with straight up being 12 and facing the floor being 6. the mark on the timing chain cover is way over towards the 2:45 position, so when i try to bring the 0 more toward the mark on the timing chain cover my motor runs like crap. i have no idea why the 0 isnt where it should be.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

I'm not entirely sure what your timing marks look like under the light, but it sounds like you might have a harmonic damper with a slipped outer ring OR the wrong timing pointer, timing cover, or damper.

I have a roller 302 with the early timing cover/water pump and the pointer is on the driver's side and lines up fine with my damper's timing marks.

 

[epmustanggt]

its weird because it runs fine, but just wont line up with the pointer its way more to the left of the pointer, its not even close to being correct looking.

 

[geostang351]

You don't want it to be on 0, you want it somewhere around 12* BTDC

 

[HHStang]

try for 36-38 total

Using a light with an advance dial, mark your TDC on the balancer, rev it up to 3k or so on the tach and start turning your dial until the marker and TDC line up and see what your reading is. Advance (turn rotor clockwise) or retard it (counter clock) until you end up with 36-38. You should be starting between 12 and 14 BTDC depending on your cam.

I'm pretty sure I'm telling you the correct info.