Timing a 350 w/465 lift cam

[markfothebeast]

Alright, I dont remember how to time an engine, its been awhile. I got my distributor set so the truck runs. I have the vacuum advance hose off. My neighbor says to time it at 12 degrees advance, someone else tells me to time it at 25 degrees advance. The dist. is turned to the point where it runs the best and I am looking at the timing and it says before and after on the timing tag above the harmonic balance, it seems to run the best around "Before" at 13-16 degrees. Is before advance or retard? And where should I time it at?

[markfothebeast]

Now Im reading that 8* before TDC is what the stock timing is. My truck won't run at 8*. It wants to run at 12-16* the best.

[s10-den]

what does it do when you hook up the vacum hose?

[The Stunningman]

This should get a ton of opinions.

Stall? Gears?

.465 lift ...duration at .050?
Crane and cam dynamics make a 3/4 race cam that is pretty rad with 465 lift.

Total timing is pretty important also anything over 36 degrees is usually a bad idea on reg pump gas.

[markfothebeast]

stock stall, 3.08 gears, built th350, low compression big chamber heads. Im pretty sure its a 465 lift. Its been awhile since so I dont remember. It has a mild lope to it.

[markfothebeast]

And I will be using non-oxygenated fuel from Amoco gas stations.

[markfothebeast]

I thought the old fashioned way was to get that sucker running and turn it to the point where it runs the best with the best fuel pressure? I've been reading all over the interweb that people have been using 12-14* with a 485 lift.

[markfothebeast]

I got it at 16* and it runs better. It hits the intake manifold rise and wont turn until I pull it and move the plug wires and dist. over one or 2 notches.

[markfothebeast]

Well anyhow, it conked out on me while driving down the road. Hard starts and all.

[markfothebeast]

Now that I think about it I was at the tranny shop and the guy was checking out my engine and he mentioned not to use the 87 octane fuel with ethanol. I wonder if my carb is getting vapor locked since I dont have a return fuel line?

[bgblock427]

Quickest and best in my opinion is to rev to around 4500, set at 32 deg total advance and lock down. You have to use a adjustable timing light, set at 32, at 4500 line up 0 with the mark on damper. Done!

[Formulakid1]

Quote: Originally Posted by bgblock427

Quickest and best in my opinion is to rev to around 4500, set at 32 deg total advance and lock down. You have to use a adjustable timing light, set at 32, at 4500 line up 0 with the mark on damper. Done!

Really.......mine runs the best at 38 total and 16 inital (all in by 3800 rpms.)

My suggestion would be find the most inital timing that will not give you any hot start problems and write that down, then take it to the track and start making some runs.

With each pass...advance the timing in 2 degree incriments untill it won't go any faster....then back it up 2 degrees and write that down.

now......recurve the dist. so that you can set the initial where you need it and it will ahve the proper mech advance to it.

[s10-den]

It cant be that hard......If its not adjusting with the dizzy, you may have it off a tooth ot two.

[bgblock427]

Thats what I have my race engine set at, 38 is a little too much advance for his cam in my opinion, but then every one has one. Most stock distributors dont hit full advance till around 45-4800 unless he has changed the springs.

Quote: Originally Posted by Formulakid1

Really.......mine runs the best at 38 total and 16 inital (all in by 3800 rpms.)

My suggestion would be find the most inital timing that will not give you any hot start problems and write that down, then take it to the track and start making some runs.

With each pass...advance the timing in 2 degree incriments untill it won't go any faster....then back it up 2 degrees and write that down.

now......recurve the dist. so that you can set the initial where you need it and it will ahve the proper mech advance to it.

[Formulakid1]

Quote: Originally Posted by bgblock427

Thats what I have my race engine set at, 38 is a little too much advance for his cam in my opinion, but then every one has one. Most stock distributors dont hit full advance till around 45-4800 unless he has changed the springs.

That's why I went through the trouble of telling him how to correctly set his timing, and not just tell him what my 11:1 solid roller .630 lift street motor runs.

[markfothebeast]

I still havent gotten my timing right on. It always wants to backfire from the carb. If I have it too low it will idle like crap and die.

[markfothebeast]

I put some 92 octane with no ethanol and it wants to run better already!