Another timing question

Hi all,

As a means of introducing myself, here's a quick rundown on my cruiser. It's a '52 Plymouth Suburban with what I think is a Nova subframe (I bought this car with an earlier build already done). It also has an open 2.73 10 bolt and a '80 305/TH350 - Performer intake and Edelbrock 600 carb and not much else. I've been fiddling around the last couple of years, chasing down details and generally just puttering around with it.

Last year I started cleaning up some details - shaving handles, bumping out dents and the like, and while I have a long way to go, I have way more time than money, so I learn as I go and do it all myself. My list grows every time I drive it. I picked up a set of coated headers from Speedway and set out to make sure the timing was decent before I ripped out the old cast iron pieces.

There was no timing tab on the front cover, so I tacked on an aftermarket tab, painted the 0 mark on the balancer, disconnected and plugged the vac adv (GM HEI) and fired up the timing light. I expected to see anywhere from 4 - 10 degrees BTDC, but when the light fired, I couldn't see the tick at all. I leaned way over and was finally able to see the mark at about the 12 o'clock position on the balancer. In my mind, that's about 45 - 50 degrees away from my tab's zero mark. What gives?

The motor starts good, idles 800, runs ok, although it has always felt a bit rich - really noxious exhaust fumes and some soot on exhaust tips, but no black smoke under load. When I bought it, it had a 750 CFM carb, which I swapped out for the elec-choked Edelbrock 600 - stock jetting. Plugs read clean. I'd really appreciate any suggestions, 'cause I'm feeling a little dumb right about now.

Thanks, Bud

A TDC locator costs less than ten bucks, and is a good tool to have in your tool box.

Summit Part # PRO-66792

http://static.summitracing.com/globa...ro-66792_w.jpg

tplini,

That's not quite as easy an answer as I wanted, but it makes sense. Can't make heads or tails without a good TDC, so I'll get on that later in the week and let you know how it goes.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Thanks, Bud

Henry Rifle,

Yep, I see one in my immediate future - I'll just whup out my Summit Frequent Flyer card and get it goin'. I need some gaskets, anyway. You can't have too many tools.:D

Thanks, Bud