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Timing gun

beags86

beags86

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Timing gun seems have taken a crap. Instead of just buying whatever pile of crap is behind the counter at the local China auto parts store I thought I would ask if anyone has a good one they have and like. I've never had one with a lcd readout or one with a built in tach or anything like that.
 
beags86 said:
Timing gun seems have taken a crap. Instead of just buying whatever pile of crap is behind the counter at the local China auto parts store I thought I would ask if anyone has a good one they have and like. I've never had one with a lcd readout or one with a built in tach or anything like that.
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Do you want one of those?

I opted for the old style flash and go light. No dial, lights, bells or whistles
 
Most if not all of those dial-back lights are inaccurate. Msd makes a good light
 
I like my old school Sun light with the dial. No idea if it is accurate but it seems to work fine. After having a fixed light I think the dial is nice to have. Its easier to see one mark without having to clean up the tab real good to read all the degrees. I really don't use it much any more, almost all my stuff is injected and adjusts itself now. It sits in the tool box with my dwell gauge taking up space. I also have never had a LCD or tach equipped one. My VW is the only thing I have with points where tach and dwell would be useful and I have those gauges separate anyway.
 
HankScorpio said:
I like my old school Sun light with the dial. No idea if it is accurate but it seems to work fine. After having a fixed light I think the dial is nice to have. Its easier to see one mark without having to clean up the tab real good to read all the degrees. I really don't use it much any more, almost all my stuff is injected and adjusts itself now. It sits in the tool box with my dwell gauge taking up space. I also have never had a LCD or tach equipped one. My VW is the only thing I have with points where tach and dwell would be useful and I have those gauges separate anyway.
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Well my goal is to be all injection with timing control. But until i quit buying old shit that's probably not going to happen.
 
beags86 said:
Well my goal is to be all injection with timing control. But until i quit buying old shit that's probably not going to happen.
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Do still need a light to test if the computer is right
 
My only input is not to get the battery operated timing light. I thought it would be cool to not have the battery leads to mess with, but then I don't need one often enough so the batteries corroded. I just got one that connects to the battery. The only "new" thing I did was the adjustable angle.
 
I have an OTC stinger light I really like. It has digital timing so no knob errors and it also has a tach in the display, so far it works with HEI, CD (MSD style) and DIS (coil near plug)ignitions and I've tested the accuracy on the balancer with marks and it is dead on every time. The only thing it doesn't work for is it has a filter that won't allow it to trigger during cranking, so the engine has to be running. I would get the same one again because it allows you to test vacuum and mechanical advance curves and you don't need the timing marks or balancer tape on the balancer.

Ok, I just looked and it doesn't appear that make that model any more, but it looks exactly like this one...

Timing Light

However, I'm not sure if that is the same or not so I can't say if it works for CD multispark ignitions.

But in general, I would say it's worth it for a "digital" advance timing light, because the digital takes the error out of the knob type units with a sticker on them. Plus the built in tach allows you to do it all from the engine compartment so you don't have to climb in and out of the cab.
 
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folkenheath said:
I have an OTC stinger light I really like. It has digital timing so no knob errors and it also has a tach in the display, so far it works with HEI and CD (MSD style) ignitions and I've tested the accuracy on the balancer with marks and it is dead on every time. The only thing it doesn't work for is it has a filter that won't allow it to trigger during cranking, so the engine has to be running.

Ok, I just looked and it doesn't appear that make that model any more, but it looks exactly like this one...

Timing Light

However, I'm not sure if that is the same or not so I can't say if it works for CD multispark ignitions.
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Thanks Heath, thats the one I had been eyeing. I think I'll add it to my next order to summit.
 
folkenheath said:
I have an OTC stinger light I really like. It has digital timing so no knob errors and it also has a tach in the display, so far it works with HEI, CD (MSD style) and DIS (coil near plug)ignitions and I've tested the accuracy on the balancer with marks and it is dead on every time. The only thing it doesn't work for is it has a filter that won't allow it to trigger during cranking, so the engine has to be running. I would get the same one again because it allows you to test vacuum and mechanical advance curves and you don't need the timing marks or balancer tape on the balancer.

Ok, I just looked and it doesn't appear that make that model any more, but it looks exactly like this one...

Timing Light

However, I'm not sure if that is the same or not so I can't say if it works for CD multispark ignitions.

But in general, I would say it's worth it for a "digital" advance timing light, because the digital takes the error out of the knob type units with a sticker on them. Plus the built in tach allows you to do it all from the engine compartment so you don't have to climb in and out of the cab.
Click to expand...
Ordered this to take advantage of summit's 100 of 1000, I was 80 short.
Initial thought is a damn thing as too nice for me. I am going to have to wrap some duct tape around the handle to make it fit in with the rest of my toolbox!

Bowtie85 said:
I thought this guy got fired for saying that Eh @79rustyk10 :dunno:

Fwiw I still kick it old school with a inductive light and timing tape.
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Got some timing tape too.
Probably should have ordered a coil on plug kit instead.

IMG_20190816_152400358.jpg IMG_20190816_152345943_HDR.jpg
 
folkenheath said:
Nice, is the inductive pickup metal or plastic?
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Very beefy plastic.

I'll try to remember to do a quick write up later I plan on retiming the stepside this weekend. (If I make the time)
 
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