Mechanical Ignition Advance Problem.

Hello from the Netherlands,

Sometime ego I did the “power timing thread” by my 1977 350 Regal. (With HEI).

I tried several aftermarket recurve sets and also different oem GM weights.
The problem is that I never get the 30-36*total advance.
Only the mechanical goes 13 - 15*max .

So the 12* Initial advance + the 13*mechanical is only 25* total advance.
When I increase the initial advance I get other problems. Bad warm starting, engine want to run backwards.

Does a Petronics distributer solve the problem?

Regads,
Job

 

Sounds like you have something else happening. Slipped harmonic balancer or timing chain? Stock timing is 12 . You should be able to bump that up considering the low 7.7 compression.
May even have a plugged catalytic converter. Which would suggest timing chain wear. What other problem besides hard starting do you get?

 

Engine is rebuilt 4 years ago, hi-compr pistons, heads ported nothing is stock anymore.
Lots of TA stuff used.

Motor runs great starts great with the 12* advance.

But in search of some more HP and fine tuning I read the thread from Larry. So I found out that I never achieve the 32-36*

 

Try using super light springs in the mechanical advance? Sometimes when checking the total timing will stick when the stuff springs don’t fully open... if you want more mechanical advance simply grind the slot more so it advances further.

 

13--15 DISTRIBUTOR degrees, or 13--15 CRANKSHAFT degrees?

How are you checking total timing?

 

For those of us that are curious, would you happen to have a picture for reference on the correct spot to grind?

 

Thanks Larry