what to set timing at

[86gtriceeater]

i havan 86 gt with 5.0 with cobra heads injectors intakes off road x pipe crower street cam upgraded to mass air 73mm (i belive) mass air meter cold air kit, underdrive pulleys....i'm not real experienced with timing but have done it before and i'm going to tonight or morning whenever someone responds but what should i set my timing to? i thought you normally just set it at zero can someone explain a little and what to set it at????

 

[82CapriRS]

you dont want it zero. i dont really know how to go into detail on why but you dont want that lol. with little mods it should be between 12-14 base, and around 36 i believe max timing imo. maybe someone here will know exactly what to set it but thats where i would start atleast.

 

[bloopbloob]

since you're an 86, i'm not sure if it's different than a 87-93... you say you have all that cobra stuff, so are you basically running fuel injected 93 cobra engine? stock timing is 10* on the 87-93 5.0, but i'm running 18* on mine without any detonation, for some reason i can't figure out. most can't get away with much more than 14*, but basically just keep advancing it till you get slight pinging, then turn it down a couple degrees... and remember as temp. increases you may have to drop your timing down a bit again also. (ie you can have higher timing in winter than summer, at least around here). there is no definitive number for how much advance, every car seems to respond differently, just play with it and figure out where it runs best.

 

[Mike in Texas]

Timing

Yep; I was running 18* on my gt40 crate engine with no problems but backed off to 15 just to be on the safe side.

 

[ls1beater4eva]

i had mine at 18 with my 347 and at 16 when i sprayed it, i would just set it at about 14 and call it done atleast till he gets the car rite make sure when u get it started to pull the little grey spout out when setting the timing and put it back in befor you turn the car off.

 

[86gtriceeater]

it doesnt run though

is it even possible to set the timing without having the engine running with a timing light? i think i just need to adjust the timing and its good to go but not totally sure is there a way to get it really close at least?

 

[ls1beater4eva]

nope u really have to have the car running to set the timeing or i have heard of some people pulling the distributer and putting it in on top dead center while the timing pointer is point at like 12 or 14 eitch ever the prefer to run i perosnaly have seen it get close like that but i allways do it with the car running , if you have sombody there then brake the dizzy hold down loose and while they try and start it rotate the dizzy alittle bit at a time

 

[Flavadave4]

With the car running is the way to go, start at 10 degrees and work your way up. I run 14 degrees with 93 octane and its smooth as glass right there.

 

[86gtriceeater]

thanks guys

i'm glad other people are as into their cars as i am...i'm not alone after plus the voices keep me busy anyway

 

[Maryland Stang]

i'm glad other people are as into their cars as i am...i'm not alone after plus the voices keep me busy anyway

The voices eh? Do you hear them all of the time?

I have mine set at 13 and I am going to try 14 or 15.

 

[bloopbloob]

The voices eh? Do you hear them all of the time?

I have mine set at 13 and I am going to try 14 or 15.

haha. that made me lol... maybe cuz its 4am and i'm kinda out of it, but nonetheless. haha!.

anyways, yes, definitely set your timing with the car running. you'll have to pull the spout first (little grey thingy), loosen the dizzy bolt, then just slowly turn the dizzy to adjust it up or down, and see how it runs. but know that it will show more pre-detonation under load (higher rpms), and at higher temps, so keep that in mind.

and i was just thinking, sounds like you don't have a timing light, so if not, i wouldn't be shy about rollin up to a local shop and just asking them to check it for you real quick, doesn't really take more than 2 min., so as long as they aren't total dicks, i'm sure they'd do it for free and then you'd know for sure.

 

[86gtriceeater]

thanks man...yes they talk to me all the time but i dont respond i dont HAVE TO hurt the babysitter he he he

 

[Mavrick]

I run 14* with 87 octane and get no detonation. I would say 12* is a safe bet to "set and forget."

 

[86gtriceeater]

thanks

 

[Foxbody93]

Also the engine needs to be at operating temp before you adjust the timing. Factory set at 10 degrees BTDC.

 

[87foxstang]

since you're an 86, i'm not sure if it's different than a 87-93... you say you have all that cobra stuff, so are you basically running fuel injected 93 cobra engine? stock timing is 10* on the 87-93 5.0, but i'm running 18* on mine without any detonation, for some reason i can't figure out. most can't get away with much more than 14*, but basically just keep advancing it till you get slight pinging, then turn it down a couple degrees... and remember as temp. increases you may have to drop your timing down a bit again also. (ie you can have higher timing in winter than summer, at least around here). there is no definitive number for how much advance, every car seems to respond differently, just play with it and figure out where it runs best.

I set mine at 19* with 93 octane and I have no pinging either, which is weird because a friend of mine had pinging at 15*

oh well, I cant complain

 

[86gtriceeater]

i set my timing at about 12 anymore than that seems too aggressive it now idles at 1800 thats good right? it doesnt start everytime without starting fluid still though what the crap?