Thread: Help please w/ timing light operation.....

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....Hi Everyone, a couple of questions in regards to timing my small block Chev. I've never used a timing light before until tonight. 1). How do I check the Total Timing when the timing marks on that bracket above the crank pulley only go up to 16??? & my total timing is 35.... 2) I have a MSD ignition retard/advance knob on my dash. If I advance {or retard} this knob is this advancing {or retarding} the; a) total timing b) initial timing or c) both ??? THANKS, Bill

Well you need a timing light with adjustable advance built into it. If you want 35 degrees at 3000rpm,set the light at 35 degrees,rev to 3 grand,pull the trigger and you should read 0 at the crank. Hank

As Hank said, the dial-back timing lights are great, that's what I use... alternatively if you don't want to shell out the $60-80-100 for one, get a timing tape of the appropriate length to afix to your balancer... these go for less than $5 and you have marks all the way around...

As for the other question, the retard knob (that term always makes me giggle, I know... immature but what the hey ) retards/advances timing all around from initial to total... just take what you have and subtract/add to it everywhere.... the device actually only retards (can't predict the future) so at the maximum setting (15) is where the ignition system would be without the box.

Hope this helps...

Chris

....THANKS Hank, Chris & Denny, Yes I think I started that thread r/e 'What Timing Light Should I Buy'? & you all told me that some timing lights don't work with an MSD Box. So I bought the MSD #8990. I will get the tape as I just talked to the guy who built the motor & he said to set the timing at 35 degrees advance at 3000 RPM. And that the idle timing is just 'whatever' it happens to be..... But I'm confused on the functions of my Retard Knob. Two more questions please; 1) Wouldn't the tape that I get depend on the diameter of the harmonic balancer that I have??? & 2) I'm confused on the Retard Knob. The guy said he set the timing with the knob at 9 & to just move the knob up or down depending on whether I wanted to advance or retard the timing. But you said the knob will ONLY RETARD the timing???? THANKS Bill

Usually the retard advance knob is used in applications where the timing is locked,special disributor where there is no vac advance used primarily in racing to allow you to start the engine easily or where one is using racing fuel one day and regular gas the next or is usually used on blower apps for the street that run multigrade fuels,from 100 plus octane down to 89 pump gas and also n2o injection soo you can cruise at regular tinming and then use the n20 with a knob dialed back,then return to normal timing when the n2o is off.
A advance retard knob with regular distributor,mechanical and vac advance is usually a tunning nightmare and a sure fire motor destroyer
I personally do not like the idea of being able to destroy the motor at a turn of the knob which is easily accesed from the drivers seat
The unit itself only retards timing,that is why its usually set to the max timing with the knob in the max position allowing you to fully advance or to retard the ignition from the seat.
Set the knob to max and set a max timing setting then retard it with the knob to a more resonable setting,or if you are running the track set it at max for the track and fuel you are using,then use the retard function for pump gas.
For a street ride I would turn the knob to full advance and set the timing to non motor blowing setting,then retard the timing back to normal everyday setting.
Theres lots of possible uses for the knob,it just depends on your set-up and what you want to use the knob for.............I would try to camoflouge the button because its a resonable cause for a Officer to investigate for n2o which is illegal on the street here in cali.The ricers have made the retard knob a sign of n2o in the cops eyes and they are trained to look for the signs of n2o because they get to impound the car and auction it off.

Go over your engine set-up again and post this and the intended use and I am sure those who know lots more about this than me will know what you need to do to have a happy engine.

"Wouldn't the tape that I get depend on the diameter of the harmonic balancer that I have???"

Yes, and it also depends on the relationship of the damper (not balancer) outer ring to the actual position of the number 1 piston. There is an elastomeric material between the inner hub and the outer ring that can allow the outer ring to slip in relation to the hub. When this happens, you can't time the motor by ANY method and be correct.

...Thanks Shawn, yes I'm using the knob so I can retard the timing with nitrous. And then when I'm not using nitrous I won't have to have my timing retarded. Didn't realize that in some states your car can be impounded ... The place that hooked up the wiring set the dial at 9 & said that this was 35 degree's total timing. And that I could advance or retard the timing from this point {although I have no reason to advance it}. But when I turned the knob it spun on the shaft that comes out of the unit so I don't know where my timing is set at. So then what I need to do is tighten the knob on the shaft so it won't spin & set the knob at 15 [max setting} for 36 degrees total advance.....

Thanks Techinspector, so what your saying is I CAN'T set my timing with the tape??? I'm confused! ~.//.~

Bill