Timing light suggestions- need to purchase - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chevybill · 11-02-2005, 01:06 PM

I am shopping for a timing light and would like some suggestions from the board. Currently contemplating the craftsman professional light in the most current catalog. Once i get this vortec together i am going to need to time that dude so it will run really well.

I am not a professional mechanic, by any means but try to buy the best quality my wallet can afford.

Thanks for suggestions.

71Dragtruck · 11-02-2005, 01:42 PM

Not sure on a brand for you, but I recomend a advance timing light for sure, the extra money was worth it to me.

**StingRay** · 11-02-2005, 02:09 PM

I have an OTC with the dial advance. It was a couple of hundred bucks Canadian about 10 years ago and it's a great light. I think the newer ones are probably all digital now. I've seen snap on ones that have a tach built in. I think that would be fantastic to have. Lots of coin for a snap on though.

bean · 11-02-2005, 03:12 PM

I've got the craftsman light and it's been the best timing light I've ever used.

tomatocity · 11-02-2005, 03:30 PM

One with a dial advance would save a lot of time and effort. Check the internet for the best buy.

Last weekend, on one of the car shows (used to be Shadetree Mechanics), they covered how to properly set all parts of the timing: centrifugal, vacuum, initial, total. The dial advance helped a ton. I wish I would have seen the complete show and taped it.

kaycee · 11-02-2005, 08:06 PM

Go for the dial back light well worth it,then you will no for sure what your total timming is and your base timming.

chevybill · 11-02-2005, 08:14 PM

the craftsman appears to have the dial on the gun's rear

BubbaGreen · 11-02-2005, 08:45 PM

I have the craftsman version with the dial....I am not really sure how accurate it really is, on mine, there is some decrepancy between the adjustment and the tick marks on the timing indicator on the engine, not much but maybe a degree to two. However, its super handy when you dont know how much advance there actually is and that dial makes it very easy to find. A tach included would be the cats meow.

PanelDeland · 11-02-2005, 09:22 PM

I have a tach dwell and timing light from Craftsman.If I were a pro I would buy the same ones and use them until I could afford the Snap-On.I think for the guy who does his own work or part time stuff the Craftsman can't be beat.I think I have around $125.00 in the pair and can honestly say the only light I've ever used that was better was a Snap-On.The dial back is a must for any tuning beyond initial static setting.

4tiresngas · 11-02-2005, 09:50 PM

Not to hi-jack this thread, but is there a FAQ or thread somewhere that tell the proper way to set the timing? I just disconnected the vacuum advance and used a light to set the timing. I'm not real sure what the advance dials on the more expensive lights do.

Can someone explain.

I bought a $40 from Kragen. I'm kind of disappointed. The light did not shine that brightly in the daylight. I had a real hard time seeing the mark on the timing tab. Maybe I should have been wearing my glasses...lol

Fred T · 11-02-2005, 11:35 PM

My friend bought an Innova digital. I borrow it every chance I get.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...=19845&R=19845

For help with setting timing
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/ho...673/index.html
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/ho...38/index1.html
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/ho...438/index.html

chevybill · 11-03-2005, 09:22 AM

thanks for the additional information, timing and tuning with advanced timing techniques is something i must improve upon.

11-02-2005, 01:06 PM	#1
chevybill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: calhoun city ms Posts: 940	Timing light suggestions- need to purchase I am shopping for a timing light and would like some suggestions from the board. Currently contemplating the craftsman professional light in the most current catalog. Once i get this vortec together i am going to need to time that dude so it will run really well. I am not a professional mechanic, by any means but try to buy the best quality my wallet can afford. Thanks for suggestions. __________________ ongoing 1970 c 10 lwb 1994 z-28 few mods.-owned since new 1978 vette silver/grey 25th anniv. paint

11-02-2005, 01:42 PM	#2
71Dragtruck Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 1,368	Re: Timing light suggestions- need to purchase Not sure on a brand for you, but I recomend a advance timing light for sure, the extra money was worth it to me. __________________ Speed is just a matter of money, question is how fast can you afford to go? 8.95@148.97mph all motor haven't tried bottle yet Sponsored by: Getz Oilfield Consulting Hard Candy Customs

11-02-2005, 02:09 PM	#3
StingRay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Saskatoon,SK,Canada Posts: 2,476	Re: Timing light suggestions- need to purchase I have an OTC with the dial advance. It was a couple of hundred bucks Canadian about 10 years ago and it's a great light. I think the newer ones are probably all digital now. I've seen snap on ones that have a tach built in. I think that would be fantastic to have. Lots of coin for a snap on though. __________________ Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada

11-02-2005, 03:12 PM	#4
bean Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 920	Re: Timing light suggestions- need to purchase I've got the craftsman light and it's been the best timing light I've ever used.

11-02-2005, 03:30 PM	#5
tomatocity Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 1,255	Re: Timing light suggestions- need to purchase One with a dial advance would save a lot of time and effort. Check the internet for the best buy. Last weekend, on one of the car shows (used to be Shadetree Mechanics), they covered how to properly set all parts of the timing: centrifugal, vacuum, initial, total. The dial advance helped a ton. I wish I would have seen the complete show and taped it. __________________ Got bored, sold everthing. Got bored, looking for a 1960-66 C-10. Want to build my last truck.

11-02-2005, 08:06 PM	#6
kaycee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 2,446	Re: Timing light suggestions- need to purchase Go for the dial back light well worth it,then you will no for sure what your total timming is and your base timming. __________________ 2001 Silverado K-1500 2005 FXDWG stage3 69 CHEVY Short/Step 327/4L60 373 posi 63 IMPALA 327

11-02-2005, 08:14 PM	#7
chevybill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: calhoun city ms Posts: 940	Re: Timing light suggestions- need to purchase the craftsman appears to have the dial on the gun's rear __________________ ongoing 1970 c 10 lwb 1994 z-28 few mods.-owned since new 1978 vette silver/grey 25th anniv. paint

11-02-2005, 08:45 PM	#8
BubbaGreen Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Cedar Park, TX Posts: 686	Re: Timing light suggestions- need to purchase I have the craftsman version with the dial....I am not really sure how accurate it really is, on mine, there is some decrepancy between the adjustment and the tick marks on the timing indicator on the engine, not much but maybe a degree to two. However, its super handy when you dont know how much advance there actually is and that dial makes it very easy to find. A tach included would be the cats meow. __________________ 71 Chevy C-10 SWB Fleetside RamJet-350/4L60e & Compushift/3.73Posi See it at www.prismnet.com/~grzanich

11-02-2005, 09:22 PM	#9
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	Re: Timing light suggestions- need to purchase I have a tach dwell and timing light from Craftsman.If I were a pro I would buy the same ones and use them until I could afford the Snap-On.I think for the guy who does his own work or part time stuff the Craftsman can't be beat.I think I have around $125.00 in the pair and can honestly say the only light I've ever used that was better was a Snap-On.The dial back is a must for any tuning beyond initial static setting. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

11-02-2005, 09:50 PM	#10
4tiresngas An American Soldier Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Grumolo D' Abadessee, Italy Posts: 503	Re: Timing light suggestions- need to purchase Not to hi-jack this thread, but is there a FAQ or thread somewhere that tell the proper way to set the timing? I just disconnected the vacuum advance and used a light to set the timing. I'm not real sure what the advance dials on the more expensive lights do. Can someone explain. I bought a $40 from Kragen. I'm kind of disappointed. The light did not shine that brightly in the daylight. I had a real hard time seeing the mark on the timing tab. Maybe I should have been wearing my glasses...lol __________________ Dan dan.brue@us.army.mil

11-02-2005, 11:35 PM	#11
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	Re: Timing light suggestions- need to purchase My friend bought an Innova digital. I borrow it every chance I get. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...=19845&R=19845 For help with setting timing http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/ho...673/index.html http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/ho...38/index1.html http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/ho...438/index.html __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

11-03-2005, 09:22 AM	#12
chevybill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: calhoun city ms Posts: 940	Re: Timing light suggestions- need to purchase thanks for the additional information, timing and tuning with advanced timing techniques is something i must improve upon. __________________ ongoing 1970 c 10 lwb 1994 z-28 few mods.-owned since new 1978 vette silver/grey 25th anniv. paint Last edited by chevybill; 11-03-2005 at 09:23 AM.



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