Overheating Issues, Perplexed

[vettestr]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

We are testing the cooling system pressure this afternoon and checking for combustion gasses in the coolant. But talk to me more about the timing issue. When I left the dyno we had a timing mark on the balancer with 18 initial and 18 in the advance, total 36. I have since gone up to 20 initial based on changing to the 750 Mighty Demon with 18 additional advance, total 38 by 3k rpms. I am using the aftermarket timing pointer that came from Professional Products with the balancer. It mounts at the 11 o'clock position in the OEM holes and PP says its suitable. So there should be no issues there right? How could timing not be right in this scenario?

Hey THE,
You do have fact she was run on the dyno to confirm timing is correct but in the world of Hot Rods who knows. With aftermarket covers, bolt on pointers not to mention distributor in and out a few times all is possible. I am sure not questioning anybodies abilities or smarts, throwing ideas out over the net only. I have seen 4 ways the marks can be wrong and just want to eliminate the possibility $hit happened.

You know what sounds right or more important what way off sounds like. Reach up and grab a handful of distributor and throw an extra 10 or 15 degrees in her as a sanity check only. Blirp the throttle off idle and listen for crisp response or a lazy lay-down response. Set the initial timing by ear and get it to rattle a little under load of lugging the engine ( put in 2nd gear when you should be in 1st gear and let engine pull a little) all at low safe RPM's . Set it by ear to a few degrees below where it wants to rattle and it bumps against the starter when hot, not hard or long enough to hurt anything of course. Then when you find that point check to see what the timing marks are telling you. If the numbers show about what you would expect great, if not you need to find out why. Either way it is fast, easy and cheap way to eliminate a lot of weird but possible problems.

I know it should be and probably is right but a lack of advance would sure cause this grief. A quick double check is what I was suggestion to just take a bunch of things out of the picture since you have done the normal stuff.