Timing issue

[janbanan]

I´m so confused with my timing. When I checked it I have 35 on 2500 rpm and about the same on idle. If I adjust distributor to about 15 on idle, engine stalls and doesn´t sound right.
Could someone have been messing with springs on the weights?
Vac advance is plugged and I have remarked TDC with pistonstop tool.
Engine works fine but if I push it flat out, idle gets high for a while.

 

[91r/t]

Factory distributor? If it is an aftermarket unit someone may have the timing locked out to no mechanical advance so you have full timing all the time. If you set it to 15 at idle, and it is indeed locked out, it will run horrible when you accelerate due to the timing have no mechanical advance built in.

 

[wsutard]

How the hell does the engine run with 35 at idle? I would expect that you would see (hear) a bunch of detonation with timing up there. Are you positive that your timing marks are aligned correctly? I have seen threads on how old harmonic balancers have spun a little to throw the timing marks off.

 

[wsutard]

I´m so confused with my timing. When I checked it I have 35 on 2500 rpm and about the same on idle. If I adjust distributor to about 15 on idle, engine stalls and doesn´t sound right.
Could someone have been messing with springs on the weights?
Vac advance is plugged and I have remarked TDC with pistonstop tool.
Engine works fine but if I push it flat out, idle gets high for a while.

Also, what engine are we discussing?

 

[91r/t]

My charger with the stroker likes 25 or so initial at idle. The problem is the hot start. Alot of these performance motors with the newer fuel will like alot of initial timing. My little 360 in my powerwagon with the bigger cam and heads likes 20 degrees at an idle.

Yea I am with him^^ What motor, combo of parts are we talking?

 

[wsutard]

My charger with the stroker likes 25 or so initial at idle. The problem is the hot start. Alot of these performance motors with the newer fuel will like alot of initial timing. My little 360 in my powerwagon with the bigger cam and heads likes 20 degrees at an idle.

Yea I am with him^^ What motor, combo of parts are we talking?

Even the difference between 25 and 35 is huge. My 340 likes 18 initial and max 36.

 

[91r/t]

Yea it may not run awesome but it'll run. Also maybe low compression then it'll like a ton of timing. We run our Dart big block drag car locked at 35 with 13.1 compression. Guess we hang out and wait for the OP to give us some info

 

[oldbee]

If original dist. the advance weights could be gummed up/stuck? Agree, wait for an answer from op.

 

[moparnation74]

If original dist. the advance weights could be gummed up/stuck? Agree, wait for an answer from op.

We need information on your build OP.....

 

[67 GTX]

How the hell does the engine run with 35 at idle? I would expect that you would see (hear) a bunch of detonation with timing up there. Are you positive that your timing marks are aligned correctly? I have seen threads on how old harmonic balancers have spun a little to throw the timing marks off.

My 440 runs at about 28 at idle. 12 initial plus another 16 from the vacuum advance.

I have heard similar issues on old balancers rotating within themselves, but I've never seen it. Has to be very perished for that to happen I'd imagine.

 

[janbanan]

I got some help from my son with revving. It seems like timing is fixed at 35. When i connected vac advance it jumped up to 50?
This is the info on engine:
440 +.040, About 9.75:1, Comp Cams 284 Extreme Energy, stage IV heads, Holley Street Dominator 750, MP distributor,MSD 6AL ignition.
Engine works fine but sometimes I have high idle for a while when I have done some burnouts. Nothing is stuck in cables or carburator so my guess it is something with the distributor.

 

[janbanan]

How the hell does the engine run with 35 at idle? I would expect that you would see (hear) a bunch of detonation with timing up there. Are you positive that your timing marks are aligned correctly? I have seen threads on how old harmonic balancers have spun a little to throw the timing marks off.

I used a pistonstop to find correct TDC and remarked my balancer.
I have rough idle but info on my camshaft says it is a bit rough.

 

[moparnation74]

I got some help from my son with revving. It seems like timing is fixed at 35. When i connected vac advance it jumped up to 50?
This is the info on engine:
440 +.040, About 9.75:1, Comp Cams 284 Extreme Energy, stage IV heads, Holley Street Dominator 750, MP distributor,MSD 6AL ignition.
Engine works fine but sometimes I have high idle for a while when I have done some burnouts. Nothing is stuck in cables or carburator so my guess it is something with the distributor.

Holy cow is that the distributor shaft moving up and down that much?

 

[janbanan]

Factory distributor? If it is an aftermarket unit someone may have the timing locked out to no mechanical advance so you have full timing all the time. If you set it to 15 at idle, and it is indeed locked out, it will run horrible when you accelerate due to the timing have no mechanical advance built in.

If the timing is locked how do they do that and why? My weights seem to be moving as they should, if timing is locked, would they move at all?

 

[janbanan]

Holy cow is that the distributor shaft moving up and down that much?

Yes, it is. If that is wrong, maybe this is my problem?

 

[moparnation74]

Yes, it is. If that is wrong, maybe this is my problem?

That thing is worn out my friend.....

 

[janbanan]

That thing is worn out my friend.....

I hope you are right because then I buy a new one and my problems are gone.
Do you have suggestions on a good one to buy. Should I buy electronic?

 

[moparnation74]

I hope you are right because then I buy a new one and my problems are gone.
Do you have suggestions on a good one to buy. Should I buy electronic?

I run points but I am an OE guy...If electronic the firecore RTR is nice and I have had one previously....Helps greatly with tuning....when you have performance upgrades...

 

[91r/t]

^^^ I am with moparnation74. If that distributor is that erratic then you need to fix that problem before going any further. They would lock the timing out of preference but that's usually race car stuff. You should have some mechanical advance in the distributor for the street in my opinion. Get the new distributor and then we can go from there. I run a Mopar Performance in my Roadrunner and an Accel in my Charger. Both have similar style and are basically the same thing. Both have the Mallory style mechanical timing adjustment ability, but we will get into that once you have it in your hands.

 

[91r/t]

Oh and definitely for a driver i would go electronic ignition and non-points. Less messing with it if your not super familiar with the components.