So my '74 sixpack has a bigblock in it, which I am assuming is the original 454. Based on the weirdness I've found in this truck so far, I'm afraid to find & run the numbers, as god ONLY knows what I'd find, but it is SOME kind of bigblock.
And it's never run particularly well, even after a tuneup ... always a bit sluggish, even for a sixpack, backfires occasionally, sputters. I've suspicious of the ignition system, but it's all new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coil.
It *is* HEI, which means someone's replaced the dizzie at some point. '74's had points stock, and the wire nut on the dizzy power wrie I am reasonably sure is NOT factory
So I've been fiddling with the timing, and I'm finding she runs, at least in Park, like a raped ape ... if I turn the dizzy anti-clockwise and move the timing mark maybe 10 degrees UP the marker ... duh, I forget whether that's advanced or retarded.
Umm, the way I figger it, this means the timing mark on the balancer is off, or the timing teeth marker thing is the wrong flavour maybe? If the dizzy had been put in wrong, that wouldn't change the relationship between the balancer and the timing marks, right, it would just mean I'd have to turn the thing into the firewall or the carb to get it right?
The vacuum advance on the dizzy seems to work; hooked my hand pump to it and it changed timing, though by how much I donno.
When I have a chance, I'll take the thing for a drive and see how she runs, prolly end up timing her by ear. I've always done it by the light first, and then fine-tuned by ear ... but 10 degrees, seems like something is wrong.
Ideas?
-- A
And it's never run particularly well, even after a tuneup ... always a bit sluggish, even for a sixpack, backfires occasionally, sputters. I've suspicious of the ignition system, but it's all new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coil.
It *is* HEI, which means someone's replaced the dizzie at some point. '74's had points stock, and the wire nut on the dizzy power wrie I am reasonably sure is NOT factory
So I've been fiddling with the timing, and I'm finding she runs, at least in Park, like a raped ape ... if I turn the dizzy anti-clockwise and move the timing mark maybe 10 degrees UP the marker ... duh, I forget whether that's advanced or retarded.
Umm, the way I figger it, this means the timing mark on the balancer is off, or the timing teeth marker thing is the wrong flavour maybe? If the dizzy had been put in wrong, that wouldn't change the relationship between the balancer and the timing marks, right, it would just mean I'd have to turn the thing into the firewall or the carb to get it right?
The vacuum advance on the dizzy seems to work; hooked my hand pump to it and it changed timing, though by how much I donno.
When I have a chance, I'll take the thing for a drive and see how she runs, prolly end up timing her by ear. I've always done it by the light first, and then fine-tuned by ear ... but 10 degrees, seems like something is wrong.
Ideas?
-- A
..made mine feel like a six banger..
