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The Purple Camaro

Adjust initial timing for highest vacuum at idle. Generally where the engine is happiest, although that doesn't address the timing curve. I would set for best vacuum, then see what the all in number is at 3500 or so.

As a kid without a timing light back in the day I'd advance until it started to ping and then back it off a couple of degrees. Probably was about as close as a fellow could get it without a light...and everything I timed that way ran awesome.
 
tRustyK5 said:
Adjust initial timing for highest vacuum at idle. Generally where the engine is happiest, although that doesn't address the timing curve. I would set for best vacuum, then see what the all in number is at 3500 or so.

As a kid without a timing light back in the day I'd advance until it started to ping and then back it off a couple of degrees. Probably was about as close as a fellow could get it without a light...and everything I timed that way ran awesome.
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Did that a lot also. By the time I'd check it would have 14 lead without the vac advance. Buy good gas and let it rip!
 
OK yeah, I get the setting at idle part….its the total timing I was wondering about. And how would you really know without a light?
 
Without a light you won't know...but in some regards the number is irrelevant if the engine is happy.

I totally agree a light is best, and set the timing at 3500 or so, so you know your "all in" number. That does require a dial back light though, or a fully engraved damper
 
Agreed.
my balancer is degreed up to 60*
 
My ATI has 360 degrees marked, but to be honest I doubt anyone without super human eyesight could see those numbers accurately with the strobe of the timing light...so dial back light FTW. lol
 
With a 305 balancer on a 350 it was a little wa n but adjusting the timing with a vac gauge made it rip
 
You can measure and make a mark for the timing you want if you don't have a marked balancer or a dial back light.

I use a dial back light. Before we had a light when I was a kid my Dad would do the same thing often, dial it up until it pinged and then back it off a tad and run it.

I use a dial back light so I can set the curve, idle, everything when I have a distributor. I like to combine the dial back light with a handheld vacuum pump, so I can make sure the vacuum can is all in at idle, and set the max vacuum advance.
 
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I don’t know if I could hear pinging w open headers
 
Spent some time matching the ports. These heads are a lot bigger than the same casting number on the truck. Ended up cutting about .100” off the floor.
Came out close on the driver side, passenger needs more. If it comes out again, going to full polish the heads and redo the passenger side of the intake

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Those prices remind me of a saying we had when I used to work in the fastener industry, "always remember to screw, nut and then bolt".
Terrible I know...
 
You need to go to Farm & Fleet where you buy it by the pound.
 
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