440 Timing questions

[rp23g7]

Hey everyone.

I was tuning the car up this morning, i had not done anything since i got it in Dec, but replaced the points.

I replaced the plugs, wires looked ok, replaced the cap and rotor, and checked the timing.

I had never checked it before, the car starts fine, runs great, doesnt get hot etc.

We went on a little cruise yesterday and we were going up a hill and it was pinging a bit, could have been bad gas.

I put a timing light on it, with the vacume line plugged, kinda hard to see cause the fuel filter is in the way, but it looked like it was either right on the edge of the timing indicator 12 or some before.

Engine is a 440 out of a 70 Imperial, date code 1970 on the pad. 850 Holley, i dont have a Tach, but if i guessed it is idleing at 700 rpm or so.

Stock cam i believe, so i am assuming the timing is close to correct. The place i bought thee car didnt have paperwork from the previous owner.

Shoould it be that far retarded

 

[1badstroker]

Well depending on which motor was in the Imperial, The 440 HP uses a J11Y plug and the regular 440 uses a J13Y plug gapped at 35. Both have timing at 12 1/2 BTDC with the vac disconected at the dist.. The 440 HP if it has the dist.solenoid the wire should also be disconected. The regular 440 should be idling at 650 rpm and the HP should be idling at 800 rpm. All information is out of the 1965-1972 Chiltons manual. Hope it helps. Based on having stock engine.

 

[69 Runner]

fuel filter in the way?

 

[rp23g7]

fuel filter in the way?

yeah, the fuel line is not run correctly i dont think. It is routed up beside the water pump houseing. the filter is about even with the timing indicator.

I will see if i can dig up a picture.

 

[daredevil]

only thing i use a timing light for is total. no more than 35 or 6 degrees with out vacumn advance

 

[rp23g7]

only thing i use a timing light for is total. no more than 35 or 6 degrees with out vacumn advance

Do you use the force the rest of the time? JK

 

[69HEMICORONETR/TCONV]

only thing i use a timing light for is total. no more than 35 or 6 degrees with out vacumn advance

I Agree, 35 to 36 is the Max.

 

[rp23g7]

another dumb question,, so i set the timing, 12 or so BTDC, no more pinging, but was i supposed to do it in park, or neutral?

A new Camaro lost on the "after timing ping test" test drive

 

[1badstroker]

either is fine.

 

[daredevil]

when i was younger i timed everything by holding the brake in drive and trying to get it as high of rpms as i could without breaking the tires loose and advancing the distributor till it rattled and then backing off a couple degrees. If it keeps rattling you may want to have the distributor advance slots welded up to limit mechanical advance. One last thing. When you posted you asked if it should be that retarded. Anything before tdc is advanced as in 12 degrees b4 top dead center means it starts firing 12 degrees b4 piston hits top of stroke.retarded is after tdc.

 

[rp23g7]

when i was younger i timed everything by holding the brake in drive and trying to get it as high of rpms as i could without breaking the tires loose and advancing the distributor till it rattled and then backing off a couple degrees. If it keeps rattling you may want to have the distributor advance slots welded up to limit mechanical advance. One last thing. When you posted you asked if it should be that retarded. Anything before tdc is advanced as in 12 degrees b4 top dead center means it starts firing 12 degrees b4 piston hits top of stroke.retarded is after tdc.

HMM i may try that. I retimed it the other night, and took it for a drive, i was sitting at a light and two kids in a Honda wanted me to light em up.

The road was wet, so i nailed the gas hard twice, spun the engine to 80 or 90 sitting still, no pinging there.

Drove back home to check once more and i had forgotten to hook the vacume advance up, oopps.

Drove to work this morning, seemed ok, I have some interior rattleling, something in the door, that sounds a lot like a ping sometimes, gotta track that down, and the collector to pipe leaks too, making a irritating ticking sound, stupid NAPA didnt get my gasket in the other day.

 

[69 Runner]

Been several months since I've laid my hands on one, but aren't the timing marks on the LEFT side of the motor?