[GroundHawger]

i need to know what i set my timing at. i just put a new timing chain in my truck, and now just gotta tune it. It is a 78 318. do i set it before or after 0? its been so long sence i have done it, i forgot. lol

 

[chrysler300le]

before. I always set it for 35 degrees total timing with vacuum advance unplugged. This usually figures out to be about 8-12 degrees BTC

 

[GroundHawger]

alright, thanks

 

[macario]

Can you explain what you mean by "35 degrees total timing"?
Don't know what that means.

Thanks.
Mac

before. I always set it for 35 degrees total timing with vacuum advance unplugged. This usually figures out to be about 8-12 degrees BTC

 

[Mag]

Can you explain what you mean by "35 degrees total timing"?
Don't know what that means.

Total timing is the sum of initial, vacuum, and mechanical timing added together at a specific rpm.

Here, read this article on timing, it's awesome.

http://www.chevytalk.com/tech/ignition/Timing_Advance.html

 

[chrysler300le]

Actually Total timing doesn't include Vacuum advance. With Vacuum advance applied at total timing, 52 degrees BTC is ideal. Most distributors have a built in advance mechanism involving springs and weights. For Chryslers that i've seen 30 degrees and 22 degrees is most common and i've seen one with 37 degrees. Mechanical advance is how much your engine will advance its timing when its reved up. Initial timing is what you set it at while the engine is ideling and vacuum advance disconnected. Initial plus Mechanical equal total timing. Lets say you have a distributor with 30 degrees mechanical built into it. You would set the timing at 5 degrees BTC to get 35 degrees Total timing. Thats ideal timing for a small block Mopar for power. Certain things such as heavy vehicles and heat require the timing to be backed off a little. So I generally set the timing at 35 total and let the initial fall where it may. The mechanical advance can be modified to change the initial timing to make the vehicle idle better. Several late 70's Mopars were designed to be set at 16 btc. My 79 300 for example when i ditched the lean burn, I used a distributor that had 30 degrees built into it. This required me to run the engine at 5 degrees btc. This engine wouldn't idle at 5 degrees so i had to modify the distributor then.

 

[GroundHawger]

i will give that a try and let ya know. thanks

 

[BrianT]

You need a timing light to do this ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[GroundHawger]

i used a timing light, got it running great, then all of a sudden, it doesnt run, and the timing is way the hell off now, my battery is melted, along with my cables, my starter dont work, and its tottally screwed up. i will try and get more info on it, but i dont have time at the moment. any idea's whats wrong?

 

[GroundHawger]

if my truck just wont run, and everything is set right, could this be because the distributer is shot.?

 

[chrysler300le]

i used a timing light, got it running great, then all of a sudden, it doesnt run, and the timing is way the hell off now, my battery is melted, along with my cables, my starter dont work, and its tottally screwed up. i will try and get more info on it, but i dont have time at the moment. any idea's whats wrong?

Dude you had a direct short to ground. This had nothing to do with the timing issue. Need to figure out what grounded out. Probably one of the battery or starter cables was bare. Replace the electrical stuff that is obviously bad and go from there.

 

[GroundHawger]

im gonna start working on that today