Riverstone cruise

[DavidH]

Hey guys, I would like to bring my car but I am having a bad time trying to understand the readings I am gettting for timing the car.

I have a 351W with an MSD 6 AL and the Ford duraspark distributor. The spec sheet from Ford, where I got the crate engine says the initial timing should be about 8 to 10 degrees and total should ba about 36 degrees at full advance (around 3000 rpm).
I set it up where it runs pretty good and check with the light and the initial is way lower than 8-10. I get to 8 to 10 at about 1600 rpm and can never get the total even close to 36. When I try to adjust the distrib. to compensate the car really runs poorly.

I thought I might have a bad light so I swapped that out and go the the same results. I got some advice that maybe the MSD 6al doesn't like the ford duraspark, so I borrowed FattyBri's new MSD distrib. and got the same results.

The engine was supposed run at Ford, but could they have installed the wrong balancer or timing tab? I am out of ideas and I really don't want to run the car and put the new motor at risk.

Anybody want a few beers to come by and take a look. It's probably something very simple, I just can't see it.

Thanks

David H (770) 720-0709 Home