Erratic Idle; OF COARSE!!!!!!

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

To be perfectly honest I have never set timing. A friend set it for me but I am going to have to learn how to do it now. He isn't always around to help. Heck, I just learned how to set the valve lash. This is wah I ask such simple questions because I have never done any of this stuff before. I guess it is never to late to learn.

I will see what it is at idle and get back to you. I am leaning towards the timing. The only two things that I changed on the car is the intake and the distributor/timing.

atleast your honest. we can get you through it.:violent-smiley-097:

 

[wedge5]

FUGLY: I was reading your whitepages(ignition 101). I noticed the part about initial timing. I went and looked at my cam card. @.050 272/276 so if I go by your chart I should have between 18-20, right??

I am trying to learn how to use my timing light, it has the advance control knob on it. I think if I get my inital timing number(18-20). Turn the advance knob until the rotating timing mark and reference mark align, take that number on the knob and add it to the base timing(18-20) that will give me my max timing. Does this sound right???

One more timing question for now. When my #1 cylinder is at TDC the balancer shows 10* What does this mean?????

 

[fugly]

FUGLY: I was reading your whitepages(ignition 101). I noticed the part about initial timing. I went and looked at my cam card. @.050 272/276 so if I go by your chart I should have between 18-20, right??
Correct
I am trying to learn how to use my timing light, it has the advance control knob on it. I think if I get my inital timing number(18-20). Turn the advance knob until the rotating timing mark and reference mark align, take that number on the knob and add it to the base timing(18-20) that will give me my max timing. Does this sound right???If I am understanding you correctly, yes, assuming the engine is turning fast enough to have it maxed out

One more timing question for now. When my #1 cylinder is at TDC the balancer shows 10* What does this mean?????

It means it ain't right- if you are sure you are at TDC, then you really have 10 degrees less timing than you think all the time- two things here- MOST importantly, your balancer could be spun- this can cause lots of broken parts or at the least a big dent in the hood....pull the balancer bolt out , make a mark where the crank key is and compare to another balancer- if it is correct, remark your timing tab to show zero. If you are actually that far off and are reading 34 degrees, you are actually only getting 24 which would explain your problems- DO NOT run the engine until you check this as it can cause major damage if that thing comes all the way loose- usually the black bushing will give you about the right curve for your combo when you get that far

 

[fugly]

This may interest you.... Showed this to a couple others with similar issues in the last few weeks...call me if you want
http://www.diamondbackengines.com/technical-white-papers/balancers-and-degree-wheels-cheap-tool/

 

[wedge5]

OK here is another stupid question. How do I get the motor to stop turning while I try to get the balancer bolt out?

 

[67 B-body]

How did you determin Top Dead Center when you said the balancer showed 10deg?
The only real way to check it with heads installed is to use a piston stop threaded into the spark plug hole. With the rockers removed from #1 cyl "prevents valves from opening" and a degree wheel stuck onto the front of the balancer and a rigid wire "coat hanger works well" pointing at the degree marks on the wheel, you should turn the engine by hand untill the piston lightly touches the piston stop that you threaded into the plug hole. Then rotate the crank the opposite direction untill the piston once again touches the piston stop, making note of what number the rigid wire is pointing at. Half way between these two numbers is Top Dead Center. This is when your balancers 0 position indicator should be lined up with 0 on the timing tab. I only mention this because the crank does rotate a bit without the piston traveling up or down the bore of the cyl when it is stoped at TDC.

 

[fugly]

An air impact should spin it out, if not you can screw two long bolts in the pulley holes and use a pry bar to hold it- Are you SURE of where TDC is?

 

[wedge5]

Heck at this point I am not sure of anything! I will double check again on the TDC.