timing on a 69 stock 440

[moparfanUSA]

Just got the engine back from the build shop. Had it on the dyno and got the 480lbs of tourqe, but only 340HP. He does not like Edelbrock carbs, so he put his Holly on my engine and worked with the timing and got it to around 375HP. He feels the holly made the difference, but I think the timing did most of it. I have been told that these engines need about 12 to 15 degrees of timing in them, with a total of about 38 degrees BTD. What are your thoughts.

 

[Meep-Meep]

That's almost exactly how mine is timed and all in by 2200 or so. I'm at 15 I and 36 total. Nothing wrong with an AFB but I've had great success with Holleys as well. I have a 750 Eddy AFB on my 440 now and it runs great! What's your compression? Was it built to the early specs or the late smog motor specs? Or custom? It's important to know what the compression distance of the pistons he put in as this will decide a lot of stuff. Do a compression check to get a better idea of what you have. A little compression goes a long way.

 

[Cranky]

Give the engine what it likes! If it likes more and runs better, then do it. Many things affect timing. Like Meep-Meep says, what's your compression ratio, cranking PSI? Low compression/low cylinder pressure engines usually like more than engines with higher compression/PSI levels.

 

[moparfanUSA]

timing

Not sure what the compression is now, I did not ask him. I'll ask him if he knows. I wanted to know what other people run on their 440's for timing.

 

[Cranky]

They are all different and has been that way since they were new. The factory set them pretty much all the same and some ran ok and some didn't. The nature of the beast. What YOUR engine likes will most likely be different than the next guys but that being said, I would start out with 12 initial (which imo, is very conservative) and go from there. At least do a compression check and see where your PSI is. If it's pretty high, you probably won't want a ton of timing in it but if it's low, it will probably like a lot more. I've tuned on two different engines that liked 50 total and idled around 20 initial!! I even went and got another timing light to make sure I was seeing right! One engine was a 318 and the other was a 440...both most likely over cammed (I knew the teen was) but both ran best with that much in them. Not saying yours will be that way tho.....

 

[moparfanUSA]

timing

Well, he did not do anything different to the engine, so he told me the compression should be the same as before 10.1 to 1