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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: portland, or
Posts: 5
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i have a 305 that needs to be tuned and i don't have a timing gun, can anyone give me some advice on how to adjust the timing without a timing gun.
any help is appreciated, thanks.
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69'
![]() long and fat all original strong 305 for now 4 speed granny remote start ![]() |
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#2 |
more ideas than money
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: spring grove, pa
Posts: 1,068
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Re: timing without a timer.
It is all about listening to it. Loosen the distributor and turn it one way until it sputters, then turn it the other way until it sputters, then try to split the difference. Give it some throttle and listen for any pings or knocks and try to make small adjustments to compensate for them.
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#3 |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,638
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Re: timing without a timer.
Listen for spark knock (pinging, detonation) as you drive, especially as you pull a hill and the engine is working harder. Retard the timing just enough for the knocking to go away.
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Canton North carolina
Posts: 3,079
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Re: timing without a timer.
Buy a vaccum guage and adjust to the highest vacuum, you may need to back it up just a tad but it will get you very close to the optimum point for your engine.
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#5 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: highland village, TX
Posts: 309
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Re: timing without a timer.
Most parts stores loan tools like this. You give them a credit card number in case you don't bring it back.
I borrowed a code reader from O'Reilly's for my '02 GMC and it told me I needed to new oxygen sensor. Saved me at least $50 and I was able to replace the sensor in the evening and didn't have to take a day off to take the truck to a shop. |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 611
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Re: timing without a timer.
You can also buy a timing light at Harbor Freight for about $10 or $20.
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#7 |
more ideas than money
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: spring grove, pa
Posts: 1,068
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Re: timing without a timer.
Thats too easy!
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#8 |
Blaze-Air
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,117
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Re: timing without a timer.
If it's a points dist. I've done it by setting the balancer on the timing mark you want, and with the key turned to on position(motor not running), slowly turn the dist until you hear it spark, tighten it down. I think it's called static timing.
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#9 |
70 Chevrolet=Obsession
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: nice ca
Posts: 1,067
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Re: timing without a timer.
Not to get anybody mad, but all those ways will get you close but the only way to do it properly is with a timing light. I used to have a friend who was into racing and he adjusted my dist. till it ran real smooth at idle and I drove it and when I punched it, my engine knocked like crazy! Ummm, nope.
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: portland, or
Posts: 5
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Re: timing without a timer.
thanks guys, after adjusting the distributor to get it as good as my mental capacity can handle, i realized it is best to use a timing light. i think i'll get one at harbor freight.
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69'
![]() long and fat all original strong 305 for now 4 speed granny remote start ![]() Last edited by job11451; 09-11-2009 at 05:24 AM. |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Porter Ranch, CA
Posts: 978
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Re: timing without a timer.
It's still fun to adjust it best you can, take it out, floor it and see if it pings, and repeat until it doesn't ping...
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: colorado springs
Posts: 479
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Re: timing without a timer.
buy a good light, you will use it so often you will be glad you have one
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#13 | |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,638
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Re: timing without a timer.
Quote:
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#14 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: galt ca,
Posts: 749
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Re: timing without a timer.
why, hei's still need to be timed.
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#15 |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,638
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Re: timing without a timer.
Yup, but not nearly as often.... with points, I was fooling around with it every time I touched the points.
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#16 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: K.C. Missouri
Posts: 1,024
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Re: timing without a timer.
only need to do it one time, unless you move the Dist.
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#17 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: galt ca,
Posts: 749
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Re: timing without a timer.
why would you need to do a points more than once?
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#18 |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,638
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Re: timing without a timer.
Points begin to deteriorate as soon as you put them in, and the gap (therefore dwell angle) changes as they wear. If you file them (to buy more time), that changes things too. And they need to be replaced regularly, depending on miles driven and quality of the points themselves, so you get to start all over again.
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: antreville, south carolina
Posts: 873
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Re: timing without a timer.
not to sound like a total retard but how do use a timing light?
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#20 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: galt ca,
Posts: 749
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Re: timing without a timer.
clip the lead onto the #1 plug wire
connect the power leads to the battery. with the motor running the light will flash every time #1 fires. when you aim the light at the dside of the motor @ the harmonic dampner the strobing effect will highlite the timing mark and you will be able to see when #1 fires in relation to the stroke of the motor. |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: colorado springs
Posts: 479
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Re: timing without a timer.
make sure to check if there is a direction mark on the clip that goes on the #1plug
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#22 |
newly minted old timer
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Hudson WI
Posts: 3,511
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Re: timing without a timer.
listening to the pinging under load is the best way to time a motor, imho. even a timing light wont do a better job. every engine is a bit different, especially when you start changing cams and doing other upgrades. what the book says to set the timing at is more of a generic setting.
i use a light to get it at book setting. then i test drive, accelerate hard and listen for the rattle. if i don’t hear anything, i bump the timing ahead. Repeat. do this until you hear the rattle or pinging sound, back the timing off a little, and now you have the proper timing for your engine.
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#23 | |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,638
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Re: timing without a timer.
Quote:
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#24 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: galt ca,
Posts: 749
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Re: timing without a timer.
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