tuning a stock 318 poly???

[Uncle Don]

what does points set at? .017? 66 model 2 bbl..
what about plug gap? .035?
what about timing? what is it supposed to be set on for a stock 318 poly motor? thanks.....:black_eye:

 

[66 coronet]

If i remember the points set at .018", the plugs at .035" and the timing at 10 btdc Remember when you change the point gap you are also changing the timing. The later LA block 318, 340 and 360 distributors will drop right in get an electronic unit and set it once and forget it.

 

[Uncle Don]

when timing at 10 btdc do you plug off the vacuum advance? and is this at idle rpms or like 2500 rpms etc...??? and on a side note, for the life of me i cant find a mark on the balancer at all...even took sand paper to it to find it...nothing.....fun fun.

 

[66 coronet]

Yes disconnect and plug the vacumm advance. This is at idle rpm which is 500 or 550. Keep looking for the mark its on there somewhere buried under 50 years of crud.

 

[Meep-Meep]

You should check point setting with a dwell meter. I just eyeball the gap, which usually get's it close then adjust as required. Target should be about 30 deg on a V8. The smaller the gap the bigger the dwell. Also adjust dwell first THEN timing.

Timing should be set with the vac advance disconnected and the vac advance should go to the ported vacuum port on the carb. If you can't find a timing mark it's possible your harmonic balancer outer ring has slipped. Look for a square groove cut all the way across the balancer. The numbers should be on the timing chain cover. Most of the time I find myself tuning based on what the engine wants mainly because of the fuel is so much different compared to when our cars were new.

 

[Uncle Don]

ok so i found timing mark, got it timed, installed new vacuum advance and still won't worth a crap with the advance hooked up. my question is does anyone know how much degrees advance does it take?? like for instance holding a timing light while at idle it is on 10 degrees, and when you rev it up how many degrees should it advance???

 

[Meep-Meep]

You should have something like 30 deg total at 3000 RPM or so. If the timing mark doesn't move as you rev the engine (vac advance disconnected) then check if the rotor springs back when you twist it. If the rotor is locked either oil the advance mechanism or get a rebuilt dizzy.

 

[69Bee]

You should have something like 30 deg total at 3000 RPM or so. If the timing mark doesn't move as you rev the engine (vac advance disconnected) then check if the rotor springs back when you twist it. If the rotor is locked either oil the advance mechanism or get a rebuilt dizzy.

Or the springs could be broken...

 

[Uncle Don]

so on a advance timing light at 3,000 rpm's i should read 30 degrees? with vacuum advance hooked up...or 30 degrees plus the 10 degrees its already set to to make 40 degrees on the timing gun???

 

[Meep-Meep]

If you have a timing light with the advance knob, you adjust the knob until the timing mark reads zero on the pointer, then read the timing at the knob. It's just a tool to make reading the mark easier. 30-35 deg at around 3000 RPM including initial timing with vac advance disconnected.

 

[Uncle Don]

awesome, thanks...