timing???

[wheelspin]

will timing effect top end power? had distributor move and went to the track last nigth and set it where I thought it was (12 degrees). and my truck wouldnt do better than 81.75 in the 1/8 and 102.50 in the 1/4 it has been 104 plus all summer and 83 in the 1/8 my buddy said to much timing takes away horsepower but adds torque. whay you guys think? So maybe back to ten dgrees?

[Scotty_S-15]

Your buddy is right, and your buddy is wrong. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif Yeah, it gets a little complicated.

............ there's a few factors involved here.

* Inital timing: this is the timing at idle, with vacuum diconnected. Normally this is before the mechanical advance in the distributor begins. 12 deg. is a good starting point. Some engines like 14 or even 16. And yeah, this increases power at those lower RPM ranges.

* Total timing: This is the maximum timing with vacuum disconnected. This usually occurs at 2,500 - 4,000 RPMs, depending on your springs/weights. This shouldn't go above 36 deg. give or take. Some engines are fine with 32 deg. total.

* Problem is, if you want to advance your initial to like 16*, you then may be pushing your total to 40*, which can possibly cause detonation at higher RPMs, killing your MPH, and quite possibly, kill your pistons! http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif Of course, too little timing at the top will hurt HP, but won't hurt the motor.

.............. So it gets involved, dicking with the dist. to get plenty of initial timing, without too much total timing.

............... And normally, for performance, you want lighter (lightest?) springs so the advance ocurrs as early as possible. Especially with S-10s which are normally not a heavy vehicle.

[stroker1]

I can't tell you your too high or too low. You need to know what your overall advance is. But for starters, if you are pretty sure you set it like it was how was the track? Many other variables. 60ft?? Shift points?? I do agree that IF you have it too high it will decrease your MPH.



Anyway I would set the overall ignition timing. This is done with vacumn advance unhooked and vacumn port on carb has to be plugged. Then check the overall advance at around 3000 RPMs. If you have never done this we can help. I'd try 36 deg. overall to start with.



The initial timing is something that can be tailored for specific engines and personal preferences. Distributors can be customized for amount of advance and rate of advance.



Stroker1



Opps, Scotty jumped in there while I was doing the reply.

[wheelspin]

ok sounds good I will set the total timing. oh and stroker 60ft was great truck was dead hooking it just didnt have the nut on the top it usually does it felt like some good passes the time slips were just dissapointingnot so much the e.t but the mph. So I will see were the total is and go from there thanks guys

[grimpuppy]

I would chalk it up to crappy conditions if your 60's were good. My truck was off 3 MPH and .15 in the quarter last weekend. Just two weeks ago I was dialing 11.18, I dialed 11.35 last weekend. I was dialing 11.09's early Summer. Weather sucks for racing right now. It was consistent though, 11.36,11.36,11.37,11.36, then half the bolts holding the front wheel together (2 piece wheels) sheared off for no particular reason and the rim folded. But that is just another day in the life with me and front tires. I would double check your total timing and if it is good, not worry so much about losing a little mph. Everyone is running slow right now.

[rayL]

grim you are a front tire area killing fool!! ya know your supposed to check them bolts er now and then right??

[Scotty_S-15]

On 2007-07-25 23:44, rayL wrote:

grim you are a front tire area killing fool!! ya know your supposed to check them bolts er now and then right??



Well he certainly knows that now! http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif But they were practically new, right?



That is nothing short of unbelievable, all the front tire/wheel grief. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_mad.gif

[grimpuppy]

On 2007-07-25 23:44, rayL wrote:

grim you are a front tire area killing fool!! ya know your supposed to check them bolts er now and then right??





Last time I looked they were on there http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif It appears that one broke, got wedged between the rim and caliper, then sheared half of them off before it fell out.

[s10carguy]

you could also buy a module from msd that will retard timing in high gear. maybe put a microswitch on the shifter linkage.