Timing on your Race BBB's

Discussion in 'Race 400/430/455' started by GS Kubisch, Oct 21, 2007.

  1. Scot69GS400conv

    Scot69GS400conv Stepchild

    Jim, can you explain the install the air cleaner in the trunk? Are you just saying to leave it off during the pass? I also have a SP1. Mike Phillips recommended the spacer as well but there are hood clearance issues (as we all know).
     
  2. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    See Larry's thread here:

    http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=63475

    Devon
     
  3. Don Palumbo

    Don Palumbo Well-Known Member

    When I set up my MSD dist. the manual said the blue bushing would produce 21* of crankshaft timing. So I set base at 14*, should be 35* total, but it only totals at 30*. The book says "approximate", are they that far off. Is 5* normal? I am going to put the silver bushing in that claims 25* so if all things remain I should be at about 35*. Make sence?
     
  4. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Make sure that you are revving it high enough to see the total. Lot's of guys rev it to 2500 and think it's all in, and it's not. It is also possible that your idle speed is such that some of the mechanical advance is in and what you think is 14* is really 9*. Make the idle speed as low as possible without stalling the motor. Does it still look like 14* initial?
     
  5. Don Palumbo

    Don Palumbo Well-Known Member

    I am sure I am reving it high enough it come to a dead stop at 30* and will not go any higher.. Your point about the idle speed it a good one ( it does idle at 1100) I will check that tomorrow.
    Thanks, Don
     
  6. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    It may be easier to install some stiff springs(temporarily) so you are sure there is no mechanical advance in at idle speed, rather than try to lower the idle speed.
     
  7. Don Palumbo

    Don Palumbo Well-Known Member

    Yeah the stiffer springs is the thought pattern I had. I did it today and sure enough you were right.:Smarty: With the stiffer springs the timimg was only 8*. Reset timing with stiffer springs and bang total is now right where I wanted it to be at 36*. Reinstalled the lighter springs and now the car is ready for Bowling Green, we leave on Sunday:)
    Thanks again, Don
     
  8. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Great! See you at BG, I'll be there Wednesday-Sunday with some of the N.E. Gang at the Quality Inn.:TU:
     
  9. Buicks4Speed

    Buicks4Speed Advanced Member


    Mine won't get out of it's own way with 35 degrees timing. Thats about what I run spraying about 200HP of Nitrous.........
    I run about .070 deck height.......
    Every time I tried the "recommended-Buick-timing", it slowed down. Timing is combination dependent, not Buick dependent. Compression, quench, and cylinder pressure(cranking compression) are your biggest variables that will affect you timing requirements.
     
  10. BigWedgie

    BigWedgie 200mph! GET REAL!!!

    We lock our timing out of the distributor and do it all with the box. All Mallory stuff and we have never had a problem. I set the timing @ 36* total but we are @ 5000' of elevation.
     
  11. AlaskaBuick

    AlaskaBuick Well-Known Member

    I have been reading this thread and learning a bunch.

    With 36* advance my Stock 71 stage 1 4 speed with mild cam stock heads, stock manifolds was turning 97 Mph in the 1/4 with a G Meter. I droped the timming back to 32* and MPH went up to 101 and gained about 4 tenths.

    Went from a 14.65 @ 97 on a 2.3 60' to a
    14.01 @ 101 on a 2.2 60'

    Now this was just easing it out of the hole on the street and not trying to launch. Was only looking to tune for a MPH indicator.

    My initial advance without any vacume is at 6*

    I may try droping it some more to 30* just to see what happens.

    Den
     
  12. BQUICK

    BQUICK Gold Level Contributor

    What octane? Sounds like it must have been detonating or at least pinging with the 36 deg.......
     
  13. AlaskaBuick

    AlaskaBuick Well-Known Member

    90 octane is all we can get at the pump.

    I could not hear any pinging? I never seem to have audible pinging problem?
    I can hear a little if a lug it, but not under acceleration.

    We have good air here, that may help? 50-60 degrees at the time.

    I think I may put some 100 octane in her and see what happens? Play with the timming a little more.

    Den
     
  14. BQUICK

    BQUICK Gold Level Contributor

    90 octane....ouch. Even if you don't hear detonation it can slow you up. One teltale is smoke on the top end from the pistons/rings rattling around and not sealing as well.
    I'd run 28 deg with less than 93 octane.
     
  15. AlaskaBuick

    AlaskaBuick Well-Known Member


    Ill try dropping it back some more and find the right number for the low octane.

    Den
     
  16. flatire

    flatire Well-Known Member

    Any one have the distributor locked out?
     
  17. GS Kubisch

    GS Kubisch THE "CUT-UP" BUICK


    Yes,That's pretty much the only way I would do it.
     
  18. flatire

    flatire Well-Known Member

    Gary, great thread. What you timing set at?:Dou:
     
  19. GS Kubisch

    GS Kubisch THE "CUT-UP" BUICK

    Thanks.......
    I've been all over through the years.
    26* to 36*
    I've settled at 33* on my 505.
     
  20. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member


    That is the way to go on a race car. As long as you have a crank retard, it's fine. Every combination will want different timing. If you can get the car to a track, start with 32* Run the car and note the trap speed. Increase the timing 2* at a time until the trap speed drops off, then back off the timing. For some reason I got my best trap speed at 39* of timing. Maybe the combination of my aluminum heads, 118 cam, and SP1 intake. I don't know, but it liked it.
     

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