I planned to buy Innova Pro Timing Lights 5568 but some reviews say that it dosent work with MSD and MALLORY systems. I am running stock now but thinking on Mallory distribuator in the future. So i guess it would be a bad idea to buy the 5568. Are there any known dial-back timing light which works with Mallory? Thanks
I bought mine from the Snap-On guy, its a Blue Point Digital dial back, pricey @ almost 300.00 (IIRC) but it works with my MSD. Im tired of buying junk to save a few bucks, then having to buy AGAIN:idea2:
Ya, I had a Mac tools one that worked with an MSD.. never heard of a problem with a timing light and an MSD until someone mentioned it on here.. then that one finally went bad, after about 20 years of being dropped, and then I found out quickly about the timing light problem.. also deal with this over at the dyno shop.. Beware, over there, we do have Snap on lights that don't work with the dial back on an MSD. Some do, some don't no real rhyme or reason. Everyone should be marking their balancer.. on a 6.75" diameter balancer (455) simply measure 2" clockwise from the timing mark. That is 34* make your mark there, and then DON'T use your dial back feature. Line your new mark up with the zero on the timing tab, reved up with no vacuum advance, and you will be very close to optimum. JW
https://store.snapon.com/Timing-Lights-Timing-Light-Digital-Multi-Function-P647416.aspx $210 Strange, looks just like Innova Pro Timing Lights 5568, but it is blue. Makes me think that they are from same factory. http://innova.com/en-US/Product/Detail/5568 I found this thread. "You don't want a timing light with adjustable advance, the multiple sparks on a the MSD confuse them." http://www.msdignition.com/forum/archive/index.php?t-6147.html Some say Equus(=innova?) 5568 works. "the MSD tech indicated that the engineers were testing it so it MIGHT be OK." https://www.msdignition.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7883 MSD shop: http://www.msdperformance.com/info.aspx?taxid=263&taxid2=287
And before you buy Mallory, understand it's a dying company.. It's parent has been bought out, and they are phasing out the ignition part of the company, and retaining the fuel stuff, so I have heard.. http://www.msdignition.com/page.aspx?id=18547 JW
Same on 430? According to manual: Distributer dwell 30* Sounds easier than this i found yesterday: http://www.1badriv.com/knowledge.htm
Okay I think i go for regular timing light to avoid problems. But TAPerformance have a timing tape for Buick balancer for $10. Waste of money when a marker would do it, or a good thing?
Jim, what's the distance to mark on a 350 balancer? Want to check both methods as I have a MAC dial back light that shows some lighter, additional flashes. I try to use the strongest, brightest flash.
I don't know the Diameter of the 350 balancer off the top of my head.. But the math is simple Diameter of the balancer X 3.14 (pi) / 360 (degrees) X 34 (number of degrees desired) ON a 455, that's 6.75 X 3.14 (21.1) / 360 (.0588) X 34 = 2.001 Measure your balancer and do the math.. it's easy.
I also experienced trouble with my dial back timing light after I upgraded to msd . A good friend and long time racer told me to hook the timing light up to a different battery when using msd. Something about the current from the alternator anyway it cured my problems. I hook it to my jump box and it works great.
Sorry for bumping...just my two cents... All this info really confused me for awhile. I had no idea purchasing a replacement timing light would be so involved educationally! Thanks each and every one of you for putting the seperate spin (viewpoint) out there. Maybe it would be best for me to purchase two guns: another basic and one with a 'set back feature'. That way I'm covered from the 8N tractor, all the way up to the 88 Camaro. I'll skip anything Craftsman though. It seems that all their tools have taken a nose dive off the dependability cliff these past couple of years. I've seen their television commercials offering to 'Price-Match' any of the Big Box Stores on lots of different power and/or Garden tools. My grandpa always raised me to pay a bit more $$ for a Craftsman Tool, because I'd be buying a Lifetime 'Investment'; not some Chinese Box Store throwaway that they won't even warrenty or carry parts for now. So it looks like I should research the Matco/Innova/Snapon/Ferret https://mechanicguides.com/best-timing-light-for-msd-ignition/ for the Top End unit and just get a replacement cord for my old unit to work as the Basic Laborer Instrument?
As long as there is a spark to the #1 cylinder, I don't see why any inductive timing light wouldn't work?? Splain.. 12 volts is 12 volts. Spark is a spark.
The multiple sparks of the MSD is supposed to play havoc with the timing light. I have 2 Craftsman lights (plain and Dial Back), and a Snap-On light. Never had a problem with any of them and my MSD Digital 6 Ignition.
I have a Mac Tools Advance Timing light #TL88. I've been using this for the last 25 years with every ignition box mentioned above with no adverse affects. Just used it on 3 different cars in the last week and a half. The guys at the Hot Rod shop I work at part time are all trying to find one on eBay or wherever for themselves. One side note: ..... Since this thread started back in 2015, Mallory was purchased by Holley/Mr. Gasket) who also owns MSD, and is slowly reintroducing their Mallory product line. That's Great News as I for one am, and always will be a die-hard Mallory fan. That by no stretch of the imagination implies that there isn't other adequate ignition products by other companies. Larry
