86 k5 distributor help!!!

[rodney chambers]

my 86 had electronic spark control which had a ghost. sometimes it ran sometimes not. i removed the esc distributor and installed an original hei out of an 80 k5.. if i set the timing to factory 4 deg the engine pings(predetonation) if i advance it the ping is worse. if i retard til the ping goes away it will hardly pull in OD. WHAT AM I MISSING???

 

[gmtech954]

do you have the vac line off the dist and plugged?

 

[dleroy43]

maybe the magnetic sensors inside the dis??

 

[diesel4me]

I had the same dilema on my 86 305 I put in my 79 C10..I ditched the EST Q-jet and dist,and put a 1976 305 HEI in it with a vacuum advance..did exactly what you described,until I moved the vacuum advance hose to MANIFOLD vacuum,rather than ported..just the opposite of most chevy's,they usually use ported vacuum..no more pinging,it pulls well,even got 2 mpg more !..my timing pointer is missing,so I timed it "by ear",so I cant tell you the exact timing specs..it starts without binding,doesn't ping,and isn't sluggish,so it must be about perfect...someday I'll bolt the pointer I found in my junk drawer on my timing cover,and see where its set at,for the hell of it..

 

[rodney chambers]

that would be the only place i havent put it. i'll give it a try. thanks