what do you pay for car tuning?

[Dino]

12 degrees initial is just a good starting point.  I agree with messaging Ron.  

Don't worry about the headers, they're not in my way.  

[Stegs]

You should message Ron and ask for his advice.  He's very supportive of his Firecore customers...

I did, he is very helpful! He said multiple times to me 15-16 initial , 32ish by 3000 rpms....

I did switch the champion plugs out for ngk xr5 plugs, i wonder if i should go back to champions and try those?  


But from what i understand the timing in these old cars can vibrate loose and change on you?....(again, im new to this...being a jeep guy everything had a ECM)

It could have vibrated off what it was set at

[Stegs]

12 degrees initial is just a good starting point.  I agree with messaging Ron.  

Don't worry about the headers, they're not in my way.  

you ever figure out brand or a part number on those?

[myk]

15-16 is just the initial... what is the total? Then what is full advance with the vacuum hooked up? You need to answer those questions before you go moving the distributor.

Im sorry i dont remember, like i said it was 3, almost 4 months ago and i dont remember.

I will try and find someone with a timing light and see if we can check it. I dont have have a tach in my car, so im not sure how i will know its 3000 rpms

You really should invest in a timing light.  My personal recommendation is the Innova 3568, as it features an advance/retard feature and a built in tachometer.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but to answer Coonhunter's question you need to do these things:

1. Determine initial timing
2. Determine vacuum advance timing
3. Determine mechanical advance timing.

The sum of those three metrics will give you your "total timing" number and help us to determine if the timing is your issue.

[Dino]

12 degrees initial is just a good starting point.  I agree with messaging Ron.  

Don't worry about the headers, they're not in my way.  

you ever figure out brand or a part number on those?

I have not but did not check the flange yet.  I'll clean them up and get back to you.

[Stegs]

15-16 is just the initial... what is the total? Then what is full advance with the vacuum hooked up? You need to answer those questions before you go moving the distributor.

Im sorry i dont remember, like i said it was 3, almost 4 months ago and i dont remember.

I will try and find someone with a timing light and see if we can check it. I dont have have a tach in my car, so im not sure how i will know its 3000 rpms

You really should invest in a timing light.  My personal recommendation is the Innova 3568, as it features an advance/retard feature and a built in tachometer.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but to answer Coonhunter's question you need to do these things:

1. Determine initial timing
2. Determine vacuum advance timing
3. Determine mechanical advance timing.

The sum of those three metrics will give you your "total timing" number and help us to determine if the timing is your issue.

i will by a light (i probably should)

i know initial timing (warm idle)

what is vac advance? vs mechanical?

Im assuming vac advance is with the distributor hooked up and then rev it to a certain rpms.....like 3000 (per rons advice)

then whats mechanical advance?


being its my birthday on friday, i should tell the wife i need a timing light for a gift 

[myk]

You got it.  When you leave your vacuum advance hooked up and raise your idle to about 3K RPM you will get your vacuum advance number.  

To get your mechanical advance number, disconnect and plug your vacuum advance, then raise your idle to 3K RPM again.  This will be your mechanical advance number.  Add the initial timing, to your vacuum advance number, and then to your mechanical advance number, and then you will have your total timing number.  This would be easy to do with the timing light I mentioned.

Again, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Keep in mind that Ron states the Firecore distributors ship preset with 20-22 degrees of mechanical timing.

[Stegs]

You got it.  When you leave your vacuum advance hooked up and raise your idle to about 3K RPM you will get your vacuum advance number.  

To get your mechanical advance number, disconnect and plug your vacuum advance, then raise your idle to 3K RPM again.  This will be your mechanical advance number.  Add the initial timing, to your vacuum advance number, and then to your mechanical advance number, and then you will have your total timing number.  This would be easy to do with the timing light I mentioned.

Again, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Keep in mind that Ron states the Firecore distributors ship preset with 20-22 degrees of mechanical timing.

thank you. Your very helpful. Im trying to learn, i have alot of questions on how to do things....hints why i am here

When i get the light, i will check it and adjust accordingly


I watched as it was adjusted about 3 months ago, he loosened a nut on the distributor and then turn the body of the distributor one way, im assuming turning the body clockwise raised the timing?

How often should you check and adjust your timing on average?

[myk]

Ron and Neil helped me with setting the timing on my car back in 2005; I haven't touched it since about a month ago, when I checked it and it was just where I left it.  I don't see a need to check timing unless something breaks or gets changed.

As for adjusting the timing yes-turning the distributor will either advance or retard the timing.  Honestly, I can't remember which way does what lol...

[Stegs]

Ron and Neil helped me with setting the timing on my car back in 2005; I haven't touched it since about a month ago, when I checked it and it was just where I left it.  I don't see a need to check timing unless something breaks or gets changed.

As for adjusting the timing yes-turning the distributor will either advance or retard the timing.  Honestly, I can't remember which way does what lol...

ill play around with it, ill shoot for 12 degrees initial, and 32ish with vac advance i guess...