how can you tell what the degrees are if my dial goes from 0-15? what sticker? ive attmpted to go through the timing guide on here but i get lost. can you exp. please!
You must first have a dial back advance timing light. Then you must have the Crane adjustable vacuum advance kit. http://www.jegs.com/i/Crane/270/99601-1/10002/-1 Once you have those two things, I can walk you through power timing your engine. For now though, adjust your initial timing to 2* BTDC with the vacuum advance unhooked and plugged.
well 2* BTDC isnt on the dial. the 0 is at the bottom of the tab. how would i determine that? it runs fine, just idles a little rough. but does that mean its dialed cirrectly?
The line between 0 and 5 is 2 1/2* BTDC. That is where the timing belongs at idle, fully warmed up, with the vacuum advance unhooked and plugged.
Larry, if you have a moment would you be so kind as to take a look at my other thread? http://v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=153924 thank you
I am sorry for not clarifying, I meant the information sticker usually found on top of the radiator support. Larry, Is the balancer on his motor the same diameter as our BBB's? If so, the 1 7/8 scribe line applies for 30 degrees. I'm not too familiar with 340 engines. There's an old saying, alot of carburetor problems are found in the distributor. The wizard knows his stuff.
This is likely related to your timing. We don't know if it is correct. Do you have a timing light? I believe the 340 balancer is the same diameter as the 350-455, but I am not positive. If it is, 1 3/4" = 30*
That's right, 1 3/4 = 30 deg. My bad. Brain freeze. What this means, thapachuco, is that if you measure 1 3/4 of an inch before your timing mark on the balancer, that is 30 degrees. Take a marker & scribe a line there. So when you rev the motor to 2500rpm, with the vac advance plugged, that mark you made on the balancer should be at 0 on the timing cover. And then adjust in 2 degree increments. If you want your total timing to be 32 deg, slowly turn the distributor so that mark you made lines up with the 2 degree mark on the timing cover. 30 + 2 = 32 degrees. Comprende? Good luck.
John, I don't think he will follow that. Besides, he has a stock distributor with stock springs. All his timing won't be in at 2500, more like 4500. I think he is better off with a dial back timing light.
there is a scribe / mark on the balancer already it is not on the tab yet, it is below the zero when i hit it with the timing light. should it be at 2* all the time? even i my 400K plus car?
so if the mark on the balancer is 1 3/4 in long than my timing is supposed to be at 30*? am i understanding this correctly? sorry guys, but thanks for all your help so far.
Yes, at normal idle, in Park, fully warmed up, vacuum advance disconnected and plugged, the balancer mark should line up with the tab mark that is between 0 and 5 on the tab. If you stand in front of the car and look down at the balancer. Measure exactly 1 3/4" clockwise from the existing balancer mark, and make a new mark with white paint. That mark = 30* When you use the timing light, you will see the 30* mark appear below the 0 on the tab. As you rev the engine, that 30* mark will move up. If you use lighter distributor springs (like in the Crane Kit I linked) You will be able to check your total timing with the new 30* mark. You must change the springs to do this.
Improper timing causes many problems that people think are from something else. I was saying to Larry at Yardleys house, that most overheating & carb problems are found in the distributor. You'd be surprised how good your car can run with the proper timing. I can't get my car to go over 190 degrees in the garage, not moving on an extremely hot day running for hours. I can time a car, Larry, but I cant tighten an oil pick up tube!!! ou: :laugh: :laugh:
