Setting Timing? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

68 Suburban · 05-16-2002, 03:12 PM

Which way do you turn the distributor to retard and advance the timing?

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tom hand · 05-16-2002, 03:17 PM

Oh you are really testing my memory. I'll guess and if I am wrong it will take two seconds for someone to correct me. CCW advances,CW retards. Then put the fuel that you plan to run,advance the timing till it pings,and back it off just enough to make it quit pinging. That is what chevy's like.

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72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail
Olive Branch MS

bigvinnie · 05-16-2002, 03:17 PM

sounds like you're trying to do it without a timing light or you can't find your timing marks...?? If you're doing it by ear, rpms will increase as advance increases.. good luck

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'72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA
http://www.ixpres.com/vlusardi/chevtrk.htm

mtdave2 · 05-16-2002, 03:23 PM

tom is right.. just keep bumping it ccw untill she rattles under power. then back it off a bit cw.

under power means get on the street and accelerat hard.. if you here a rattle thats too far. i have gotten as much as 19btdc before on a engine with a large cam..

tom hand · 05-16-2002, 04:20 PM

I am a cheapskate, I time it that way because it gets better gas milage, LOL

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72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail
Olive Branch MS

68 Suburban · 05-16-2002, 04:25 PM

Are there any starting symptoms of an engine that is too far advanced or too far retarded? Sometime my engine sounds like it is strugling to start.

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Check out other members trucks

1968 50th Anniversary C-10 Suburban (Tows all these cars all over the place)
1968 50th Anniversary C-20 Pickup CST, Sold to Fine69
1969 SS Camaro Conv't
1960 Lakewood Travel Trailer
1963 Ford Falcon Wagon, Still For Sale
Phoenix, AZ.

Click Here for Parts and Venicles I have Available

THINGS I AM LOOKING FOR:
67-68 SUBURBAN TRIM. $$$$ Reward
for finding the 3rd door trim piece
and the small piece that goes on
the 1/4 panel right behind the
3rd door.Click Here to see the two pieces I need.

mtdave2 · 05-16-2002, 04:32 PM

ya, if you are to far it will hesitate and make a strange noise when starting..

tom hand · 05-16-2002, 04:43 PM

Yes, if it is too far advanced it will be hard on the starter. A quick way to check is to dissconnect the ignition. If you have an HEI unplug the power wire, if you have points remove the coil wire. Now try to crank it,if it turns over faster retard the timing.

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72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail
Olive Branch MS

[This message has been edited by tom hand (edited May 16, 2002).]

Scrub · 05-16-2002, 04:51 PM

Retard and advance always foul me up.

If you turn it clockwise, the spark will fire later in the compression stroke. That is what you need to do if it starts hard. My starter got worn and the dang thing would not start hot. Every time I shut it off hot, I had to pop the hood and rotate the distributor clockwise a bit, Start the engine and then jump back out and turn it back.

You can time your engine by setting the motor to where it is sitting with the timing mark at say 8 degrees before top dead center. Turn the key on, but don't start the motor. Now rotate the distributor clockwise a bit and roll it back ccw real slow. If you listen hard, you can hear the points snap open. You will have to pop the cap to hear it. You are now rough timed.
Then fiddle with it a bit until it is perfect by rolling it ccw until it either starts hard or pings a bit. Be carefull as a motor that is too far ccw can run real hot and actually melt a piston.

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Scrub
70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles
72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends.

05-16-2002, 03:12 PM	#1
68 Suburban Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: From Chicago, Live in Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,802	Setting Timing? Which way do you turn the distributor to retard and advance the timing? ------------------ Check out other members trucks 1968 50th Anniversary C-10 Suburban (Tows all these cars all over the place) 1968 50th Anniversary C-20 Pickup CST, Sold to Fine69 1969 SS Camaro Conv't 1960 Lakewood Travel Trailer 1963 Ford Falcon Wagon, Still For Sale Phoenix, AZ. Click Here for Parts and Venicles I have Available THINGS I AM LOOKING FOR: 67-68 SUBURBAN TRIM. $$$$ Reward for finding the 3rd door trim piece and the small piece that goes on the 1/4 panel right behind the 3rd door.Click Here to see the two pieces I need. __________________ Just sitting here contemplating contemplation.

05-16-2002, 03:17 PM	#2
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	Oh you are really testing my memory. I'll guess and if I am wrong it will take two seconds for someone to correct me. CCW advances,CW retards. Then put the fuel that you plan to run,advance the timing till it pings,and back it off just enough to make it quit pinging. That is what chevy's like. ------------------ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

05-16-2002, 03:17 PM	#3
bigvinnie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: escondido, ca 92026 Posts: 1,222	sounds like you're trying to do it without a timing light or you can't find your timing marks...?? If you're doing it by ear, rpms will increase as advance increases.. good luck ------------------ '72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA http://www.ixpres.com/vlusardi/chevtrk.htm __________________ '72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project

05-16-2002, 03:23 PM	#4
mtdave2 newly minted old timer Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Hudson WI Posts: 3,521	tom is right.. just keep bumping it ccw untill she rattles under power. then back it off a bit cw. under power means get on the street and accelerat hard.. if you here a rattle thats too far. i have gotten as much as 19btdc before on a engine with a large cam.. __________________ ____________________________________________ 72 c20 longhorn 65k org miles and counting! 69 k10 Suburban

05-16-2002, 04:20 PM	#5
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	I am a cheapskate, I time it that way because it gets better gas milage, LOL ------------------ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

05-16-2002, 04:25 PM	#6
68 Suburban Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: From Chicago, Live in Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,802	Are there any starting symptoms of an engine that is too far advanced or too far retarded? Sometime my engine sounds like it is strugling to start. ------------------ Check out other members trucks 1968 50th Anniversary C-10 Suburban (Tows all these cars all over the place) 1968 50th Anniversary C-20 Pickup CST, Sold to Fine69 1969 SS Camaro Conv't 1960 Lakewood Travel Trailer 1963 Ford Falcon Wagon, Still For Sale Phoenix, AZ. Click Here for Parts and Venicles I have Available THINGS I AM LOOKING FOR: 67-68 SUBURBAN TRIM. $$$$ Reward for finding the 3rd door trim piece and the small piece that goes on the 1/4 panel right behind the 3rd door.Click Here to see the two pieces I need. __________________ Just sitting here contemplating contemplation.

05-16-2002, 04:32 PM	#7
mtdave2 newly minted old timer Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Hudson WI Posts: 3,521	ya, if you are to far it will hesitate and make a strange noise when starting.. __________________ ____________________________________________ 72 c20 longhorn 65k org miles and counting! 69 k10 Suburban

05-16-2002, 04:43 PM	#8
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	Yes, if it is too far advanced it will be hard on the starter. A quick way to check is to dissconnect the ignition. If you have an HEI unplug the power wire, if you have points remove the coil wire. Now try to crank it,if it turns over faster retard the timing. ------------------ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS [This message has been edited by tom hand (edited May 16, 2002).] __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

05-16-2002, 04:51 PM	#9
Scrub Collector of rusty Items Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sisters,Oregon USA Posts: 731	Retard and advance always foul me up. If you turn it clockwise, the spark will fire later in the compression stroke. That is what you need to do if it starts hard. My starter got worn and the dang thing would not start hot. Every time I shut it off hot, I had to pop the hood and rotate the distributor clockwise a bit, Start the engine and then jump back out and turn it back. You can time your engine by setting the motor to where it is sitting with the timing mark at say 8 degrees before top dead center. Turn the key on, but don't start the motor. Now rotate the distributor clockwise a bit and roll it back ccw real slow. If you listen hard, you can hear the points snap open. You will have to pop the cap to hear it. You are now rough timed. Then fiddle with it a bit until it is perfect by rolling it ccw until it either starts hard or pings a bit. Be carefull as a motor that is too far ccw can run real hot and actually melt a piston. ------------------ Scrub 70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles 72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends. __________________ Scrub Sisters, Oregon - Home of the Sisters Rodeo. 70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles 72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends.



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