Thanks for the pictures Chris! I know for sure that the bushing is gone so it could be the solution to my problem. I have used lots of cans Combustion Chamber Cleaner sucked up by the carb already (the car started to smoke all the oil away so it works probably) but the pinging did not go away. I saw that Summitracing sells the kits for my distributor that also contains a bushing. I can't wait to do this and i really hope the pinging is gone by then. Thank you very much for you help Chris, i appreciate it very much. Robbie
I used Combustion Chamber Cleaner already and PCV Valve is new. No, it pings not at idle but only at part throttle. Very quickly when you hit the gas partly before it even builds up rpm you can here it. But i think that Chris found the problem i was looking for, i will install a new bushing and check my timing and see if it's gone. Thanks for your advice man! Robbie
Lowering the compression ratio even further by using a thicker head gasket would be a very last resort to me. I'd do it only after all other tuning has failed, including enrichening the carbs primary circuit slightly. I'd stick with the ignition timing curve tuning for now. Devon
Devon, you guys will find that once he install's a bushing in the distributor all his problems will be solved. There is no need to pull heads or modify carb etc...Chris
Is your car up and running? Last I saw you were doing stepped headers or somethink along those lines. I would like some engine bay shots if you have some. If you run across a decent 69 wildcat let me know, that was my first buick about 25 years ago. Red with black vinyl top Chris
i think you should replace the timing chain. If you take your oil pan off (havent had done it yet) you will find a bunch of nylon pieces in it, these are off the timing chain (cam sprocket) they were used to quiet down the timing chain, but they break off, so your chain will be loose and probably worn down quite a bit since its alluminum under the nylon.
Hi Steven/Alan, My pinging is over! I can't believe it, i searched for it since 2006 and it was just the advance limit bushing. Man it runs great now. I don't now if my chain has ever been replaced....but does it really matter much? I mean it runs great on full vacuum advance and absolutly no Pinging! I can't believe it, i think i can even advance it a bit before TDC...i am going to fine tune it tomorrow. Thank you guys for your advice, i appreciatte it very much! Robbie
CHRIS......i owe you big time friend! I tried to call you today from The Netherlands Europe, it's 9 hours later here so it was 3pm at your place when i called you. I wanted to thank you personally for fixing my pinging that i searched for for more then a year! Thank you so much Chris, i did not know that my engine sounds so good at full throttle.....i can drive it with full vacuum now and absolutly no pinging. I think i can even adjust it 2 degrees before TDC...i will fine tune it tomorrow. Man i am very very happy, thanks to all you guys that helped me search my problem and Chris for finding the exact problem for me! P.S. I can leave the heads on man....AWESOME no engine work now when the weather is great and the summer to come. Robbie
Yes, you are right Joe, what a fool huh!? Thank you too for your advice, i appreciate it! I have know the bushings from an MSD advance curve kit. I have different colors: Red-smallest appr. crankshaft degrees is 28 Silver 25 Blue 21 Black-largest 18 My ignition is stock, springs/weights/30deg. dwell,points and TDC, which bushing comes closest to stock? I think the red one, but i am not sure. Any advice is welcome, thanks
The only real reason to do the timing chain NOW would be if you could not set - and maintain - a timing setting. When the chain stretches the timing is all over the place and impossible to set because the chain "moves" and a set position is not possible. ...as mentioned, the nylon gear does wear and should be replaced but if you are running fine I'd enjoy the summer and put that off as a winter project.
Setting ignition timing works great.....if i will replace it sometime it will be with an Edelbrock timing chain. Used one of those before on my other 68 Riviera. The MSD bushings do not fit for my distributor...i fixed it with a piece of a rubber vacuum hose, the hoses to the windshield work well for that. Thanks Alan Robbie
Hey Robbie, I'm glad it worked out good for you:TU: I think the Mr Gasket part# is 927G. Throw out the weights that come in the kit there junk, install the brass bushing, I would use the light springs (silver) If I remember correctly, set the initial timing @8* with the vacuum advance plugged, and that should give 8* initial, 30* total, it will all be in by 2500 rpm. Let me know if you need anymore help. I'm only to happy to help. Chris
Hey Chris, Do you mean 8 before TDC ? Should i leave my points/dwell stock at 30 ? That all seems too early Chris, i just set my timing a little bit over 2 deg. before TDC and it started to ping a little at higher rpm's. One steel bushing of the MSD kit did fit, the red one (the smallest, the others were too big for the oval hole) but it did ping with the red one, the advance was not limited enough. Your idea with the windshield hose works perfect! There is not much play but i can't get it to ping and burn my tires easy. I do think i can get more out of it though.... Maybe you have to explain more. Is it possible to set timing like you said due to the lighter springs without pinging??? Thanks again man, you really don't know how happy i am because of the way i can drive my car now....all because of your help and your talent! I owe you! If you need/like something from Europe just tell me and i will get it for ya! Robbie
Robbie, You need to set the total timing. That is very hard to do with the stock springs. The stock springs don't allow full mechanical advance until 4600 RPM. You don't want to rev the engine that high in Park. If you buy the Crane adjustable vacuum advance http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10002_49340_-1, the kit comes with 3 sets of springs that are ideal. If you use the lightest set (yellow), all the advance will be in by 2000 RPM. That makes it easy to set your total advance because you just need to rev the engine to 2000 RPM when you have the timing light on it. After you set the total, you can put stiffer springs back in if you want. If you don't have a dial back advance light, you can make a 30* mark on your balancer. Find out what total advance gives you the best performance with no ping. The initial advance will fall wherever it does. Once you know the total advance your engine likes best, you can experiment with lighter springs to bring the advance in earlier. Get it in as early as possible with no ping. This gives the best boost to low end power and is something you can really feel. Of course if you bring the advance in sooner, you will need to cut back on the amount of vacuum advance. The adjustable cannister will make that easier. All of this is covered in my Power Timing thread in the FAQ Forum. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=63475
Hi Larry, This is new for me. Do you mean i move my distributor at 2000 rpm (with light silver springs from my MSD kit) and set it at TDC.....or at number 4 deg before TDC or?? I am sorry but i don't understand it 100% i think. Do i need to set my points different too?? I have a timing light with rpm and dwell and v ^ setting... It would be great to have all the advance in more early, but i think i need to know more about how to do that.....
