Timing question

[rockyrivermark]

1970 c10 350 auto

Installed a new HEI distributor tonight. Gonna set timing tomorrow.
My timing tab doesn't have any numbers on it. any info on reading the tab appreciated.
Thanks. Mark
Posted via Mobile Device

[Stocker]

It should look something like this pic. Each mark represents 2 degrees timing.

[rockyrivermark]

Originally Posted by Stocker

It should look something like this pic. Each mark represents 2 degrees timing.

Posted via Mobile Device

[rockyrivermark]

Originally Posted by rockyrivermark

Posted via Mobile Device

That's what I was hoping for. Thanks.
Timing 10 BTD sound right. That's what I found online.
Posted via Mobile Device

[geezer#99]

Only 10!!
Might be good for a stocker. (No pun intended).
What mods to your motor you got?

[rockyrivermark]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Only 10!!
Might be good for a stocker. (No pun intended).
What mods to your motor you got?

Stock 350
Added HEI dist tonight along with
Edelbrock 600 and stock type edelbrock manifold
Haven't ran it yet. Waiting for new valve covers
Posted via Mobile Device

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Only 10!!
Might be good for a stocker. (No pun intended).

Might be a good starting point though.... Can't remember what mine is set at. I usually advance until it pings, then gradually back it down until it's quiet.

[geezer#99]

Is it a brand new motor or has it been run already?
Where in Ohio do you live?

[rockyrivermark]

It's an original 1970 350.
I live in Fairview park close to Hopkins airport.
I've been searching for 8 years for a solid truck for a god price. I just about gave up and finally found a gem for a great price.
I'm thrilled and loving working on it.
I build custom kitchen cabinets on the side and finding it very difficult to build cabinets when my truck is in the shop.
Mark
Posted via Mobile Device

[geezer#99]

10 is good place to start.
Don't forget to plug off the vac advance line when you set the timing.
I like 14 myself for stock motors.
Are you gonna use a fuel regulator for that eddy carb set at 5 psi. Eddy carbs are sensitive to fuel pressure.

[rockyrivermark]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

10 is good place to start.
Don't forget to plug off the vac advance line when you set the timing.
I like 14 myself for stock motors.
Are you gonna use a fuel regulator for that eddy carb set at 5 psi. Eddy carbs are sensitive to fuel pressure.

Posted via Mobile Device

[rockyrivermark]

Thank you I was wondering if I needed a regulator for the fuel pressure. One more thing to add to my list for summit. Driving there Saturday.
Wife keeps asking what all these deliveries are! Lol. "It's nothing honey"
Posted via Mobile Device

[geezer#99]

With your hei, did you use a dedicated 12 volts to it?

[LongBox]

As far as timing goes, it was common practice back in the 70s, right after the first oil crisis drove gas prices up, to buy a timing kit for the distributor. Basically, the idea was to advance the static timing, but limit the total advance by putting a limiting device in the distributor, so that the engine would not be harmed by detonation at higher revs. This gave the engine more torque and better fuel economy, but as others have posted, you had to be careful that you did not get ignition knocking by using too much advance for the compression you had and the fuel grade you were using.

Yes, the idea worked, my fuel economy with my 71 350 4 bbl improved quite a bit, and the engine had a lot more low speed grunt. I did all this in conjunction with adding dual exhaust, and the "famous" upside down air cleaner lid tuning trick!

[Alex V.]

I couldn't get the mark to read right on my '67's 350 (older points distributor) so after swapping to the calmer cam it needed I had to tune it by feel. Started out way too retarded (don't laugh) and while it didn't exhibit any specific bad behaviors it ran hotter than normal, idled with a very deep, labored tone, and could barely hold 50-55 on hills. Bit by bit I advanced it to where I've had it the last 8 months or so, where temp is just above the line into the solid, center stripe (stock gauge), idle is as smooth as possible, plugs are a nice light caramel color, and mileage is as much as 14 MPG with the stock Rochester 4G. I've tried advancing it from there a smidge but that brings on a slight hunt/shudder at idle so I returned to the previous setting and called it good until I can spend enough time/money to alter the distributor curve.

Yours may not behave the exact same, but there may be some elements of my experience you can use in dialing yours in. Once it all gets close you have to balance timing with carburetor calibration to get it just so - I'm up to a 56? main jet from 53 or 54 (put in little jets when I changed the cam, just as a starting point) and since I'm confident my current distributor is timed to its current optimum I need to come up just a couple more jet sizes (58 or 59 is next) to get primary mixture just right. Not sure if I'll get around to secondary/power jetting before the 327 goes back in.