Roush Engine Experts.

[madmaxx]

the answer to your question.

1) set base timing to about 18 to 20 degrees at idle
2) Now rev the engine in neutral and see what the timing is. you may want to mark your harmonic balancer at 32 degrees so it is easy to see. Yes it will be loud, at 4000 rpm all timing should be in so if you rev over dont worry the timing will not advance anymore. The advance is controlled by springs underneath your rotor in your distributor.

If you have an adjustable light you set the advance at 32 degrees then rev to 4plusk and you should be on zero on your harmonic balancer. It is critical you rev the engine and dont use a spring curve to calculate advance.

[Roush #1]

Jim,

Your total (initial timing plus advance in the distributor) timing should not be over 34 degrees.

All of your timing should be advanced by 3,500 RPM if yours is like most Roush MSD distributors. If you check it at 4,000 is shouldn't be any higher than it is at 3,500 ........if it is like most Roush distributors.

Check it at 3 or 4 thousand (wherever all the advance is in) and set it somewhere between 31 and 34 degrees. Try it out and see which one you like best just don't get much over 34 degrees total.

Mine (427 SR/TW #444) likes 34 degrees total, but there is not much difference between 31 and 34. My timing at idle is about 12 degrees.

BTW...some timing lights do not like MSD products and will not work properly with them. If you can borrow another timing light it wouldn't hurt to check the accuracy of yours.

Hope this helps.

Jody