Question about ignition timing

[Andrew Teal]

Jim,
I well loan you my dail back timing gun. Is the powder coating place out by you still open, Kens, as I call the # no answer. I might get over this week.

Andy

[race-it]

Andy, Kens is about a mile from me. I did not use him because I had white pipes and he was relucant to do white. I went to performance coatings in Auburn. The other work I saw from him looked good.

Jim

[race-it]

I brought #1 piston up to top of cylinder. "O" Mark on damper lined up with
top strait edge of pointer that said "time". With idle set a 700 RPM, damper was 36 to 38. Should have said 12 to 14. I moved plug wires back and forth one hole to see if that would help. Engine would not run in either changed position. I pulled distributer and moved one slot, same thing. Is my pointer wrong. Engine runs good but pointer lines up at 36 to 38. What do you think is wrong. With a dial timing light do you have to mess with the damper setting?
Jim

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by race-it

What do you think is wrong?

Do you by any chance have an MSD ignition box?

[jwd]

Jim

If it is running well enough to drive, bring it over and we'll straighten this timing thing out in a few minutes.

Jim (TOO)

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Do you by any chance have an MSD ignition box?

If you have an MSD or any other multi-spark ignition boxe, your timing light will "read" each time the # 1 plug fires.....or in the case of an MSD box with your engine idling, you'll "read" 3 times the actual timing becuase of the three sparks per cycle...........

Not all timing lights do this, but I bought a new "digital" timing light a few weeks ago and it reads triple at idle, at 3000 rpms,it reads the exact correct timing I have in my motor............on the box it specifically said "compatible with multi-sparks ignitions", one reason I bought it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I first built the motor I was using a Ford Durapsark distributor and ignition box and once I had my base/total timing where I wanted it, I marked the distributor flange and the block lightly with a small chisel,that way if I have to remove the distributor and re-install it, I know exactly where it goes with #1 at TDC......but my timing light says its at 30 degress instead of 10 degrees where it should be, exactly 3 times the real timing value, rev it up and after 2000 or so rpms, MSD will only fire once per cycle and my timing goes to 32 degrees total timing............

Not all timing lights will do this, but most will...........

David

[jwd]

My timing light is a Sears "Penske" from 1970 and it reads perfectly with a MSD. Come on guy's, this isn't rocket science.

Jim

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by jwd

My timing light is a Sears "Penske" from 1970 and it reads perfectly with a MSD. Come on guy's, this isn't rocket science.

Jim

My old Sears timing light from the early 70's worked perfectly with my MSD right up till a few weeks ago when checking the timing and I accidently let the positive clip touch the positive side of the coil, evidently it's only good for 12 volts and not 40,000+, that's when I bought a new/improved digital timing light thats not half as good as my old Sears one............

David

[jhv48]

Originally Posted by race-it

I brought #1 piston up to top of cylinder. "O" Mark on damper lined up with
top strait edge of pointer that said "time". With idle set a 700 RPM, damper was 36 to 38. Should have said 12 to 14. I moved plug wires back and forth one hole to see if that would help. Engine would not run in either changed position. I pulled distributer and moved one slot, same thing. Is my pointer wrong. Engine runs good but pointer lines up at 36 to 38. What do you think is wrong. With a dial timing light do you have to mess with the damper setting?
Jim

Did you undo the vacuum line to the distributor and plug the hole first?

When you revved it a little, did the number get larger. If not, your timing light is measuring total advance.

[Steve Bisson]

Ditto on plugging the vacuum hose.

[race-it]

To answer question's,

I do have an MSD Box.
My distributor does not use vacuum. My distributor is a modified Ford distributor converted to electronic ignition that came with the 302.

Jim

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by race-it

To answer question's,

I do have an MSD Box.
My distributer does not use vacume.

Jim

That's the problem then -- your timing light is not compatible with the box.

[race-it]

Ray, Steve, Andy,,

Kick him when he's down Jim#2 said my cobra was not a rocket!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can only hope his 1st wife comes back to him!!!!!!!!!!